Rafael Nadal, known for his humility and cautious approach, is maintaining a level-headed perspective despite a convincing comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International. The Spanish tennis icon eased past Dominic Thiem in two sets, exceeding some expectations.
While fans and pundits speculated about Nadal making a powerful return to the ATP Tour, the 20-time Grand Slam champion remained grounded, emphasizing that it was just one match. Nadal acknowledged the positive start but refused to extrapolate broader implications.
“I have been honest, and for me, nothing changed. It’s only a positive start. I mean, it’s just one match after a year that I played quite well, honestly,” said Nadal. He emphasized the need to avoid drawing sweeping conclusions from a single match, showcasing his measured and pragmatic approach.
Nadal’s consistent downplaying of expectations mirrors his earlier statements, where he emphasized taking each day as it comes. He prioritizes the crucial aspect of staying healthy, particularly given his history of battling injuries.
“First and most important thing today is to stay healthy, honestly. My way to approach that didn’t change at all after this match. My way to approach is just to try to enjoy every single day that I have the chance to be on court,” Nadal remarked, highlighting the importance of gradual progress in recovery.
Despite playing down immediate expectations, Nadal hasn’t abandoned his goals. His focus remains on the medium term, aiming to regain competitiveness in the coming months.
“For me, my goal is still medium-term, in a couple of months to try to be, again, competitive. Now, if I am competitive, fantastic, but it’s something that, for me, is going to be a big surprise if I am competitive at a good level. Let’s see. Day by day. Today is a positive day. Let’s see after tomorrow,” Nadal shared, emphasizing the ongoing nature of his journey back to top form.
As Nadal takes a cautious and methodical approach to his comeback, the tennis world awaits with anticipation to witness the unfolding chapters of his resilient journey on the court.
Nadal in Brisbane, ranking, and results in 2024
Now the world no.672, Nadal has achieved a 1-0 record in 2024. Nadal is currently competing in Brisbane where he conquered the world no.98 Dominic Thiem 7-5 6-1.
Rafael Nadal will fight against the world no.102 Jason Murray Kubler in the 2nd round on Thursday at 6:30 pm on PAT RAFTER ARENA. They have never competed against each other so far in top competitions.
The Spaniard won 92 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 63 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal |
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