Rafael Nadal really risks not playing in January 2024

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When will Rafael Nadal return to the circuit and, above all, will the Spaniard be able to return to the court in January? A few weeks ago, Craig Tiley, CEO of the Australian Open, answered this question. According to him, the Spanish tennis player would be ready to return for the Grand Slam tournament, exactly one year after his absence from the ATP tournaments.

However, the truth about the Spanish tennis player is different: he tells it in an interview given to Mundo Deportivo.

"Tiley's statements were a bit risky. I have an excellent relationship with him and I understand his enthusiasm and also that of the Australian Open, which is certainly lower than what I have for going there. But from there to saying that I'm going to the Australian Open seems very complicated to me.

In fact, I don't know and I'm working to try to recover. At the moment I don't need dates, but I need to work day by day with enthusiasm and the right mentality to try to recover. If I set dates and don't I respect them, I add disappointments that I don't need, because I've already had enough disappointments on a sporting and physical level in recent times. So I don't need to set dates," explained Nadal

Rafael Nadal really risks not playing in January 2024

A long break for Rafa Nadal, who has always gotten used to and accustomed his fans to being a fighter, always ready to add a new victory, a new record and new titles.

A year of absence from the tour means not seeing his fame and his determination: it means a year of non-competition for the twenty-two-time Slam champion.

"I am a competitive person but not only in tennis, it was difficult for me not to be able to play golf, which after all is a way of competing. It was difficult for me not to be able to compete doing something else and obviously in tennis I missed it being on the circuit, being able to compete, being able to feel like a player, going to the best pitches with a full stadium; of course I miss it but I can't help but live with it," said the Spaniard.

The words of the 22-time Slam champion suggest that his return in January is far from certain. Rafa risks not being physically ready for the start of 2024, completely skipping the trip to Australia. We all hope to be able to see Nadal starting from the Australian Open, but to know his final decision, we will have to wait a few more weeks.