“King of clay” Nadal is preparing to mark his return to the tennis world after a long break from competition.
The Spaniard’s former coach Toni Nadal shared insights on what fans can expect from Rafael Nadal in the 2024 season. He also expressed his view that the Paris Olympic Games potentially marking the final tournament in the career of the “King of Clay”.
In a recent interview with former world No. 1 Marion Bartoli on RMC Sports, Rafael Nadal’s uncle spoke about his nephew’s preparations and expectations before returning to the tennis industry.
Fans are preparing to witness Nadal stride on the courts
Toni Nadal mentioned that the 22-time Grand Slam champion showed a high spirit of competition during practice sessions. Roland Garros is the main goal that Nadal is aiming for in the new season. Furthermore, he predicted the Paris Olympic Games could be a fitting end to Nadal’s illustrious career.
“Rafael is doing well. He has returned to training with good intensity, with the most important thing being to breathe the atmosphere of the French Open.
“I don’t think he will consider retiring, for a simple reason that he has told me many times. Rafa doesn’t want to retire with the feeling of being injured ,” Toni Nadal added.
According to current coach Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rafael Nadal is expecting a successful year and plans to compete at both Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics. The latter event could mark the pinnacle of his illustrious career, although it all depends on how his body reacts when he returns.
Roland Garros is Rafa’s top goal in the 2024 season“What Rafa dreams of is having a good year of competition, trying to return to a high level. He knows it will be difficult, because every year tennis changes more and more clearly.
But his goal is to try to get back here again, especially to play again in Paris. If his body feels right, he thinks he’ll have a chance to do really great things at Roland Garros.
“The important thing is not to try to win but to enjoy every moment on the court when possible ,” Toni Nadal affirmed.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion confirmed that the first tournament he will attend when he returns to tennis is the Brisbane International 2024 taking place on December 31.
