{"id":296489,"date":"2023-10-20T09:39:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T09:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=296489"},"modified":"2023-10-20T09:39:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T09:39:34","slug":"rafael-nadal-raises-alarm-bells-as-spaniard-refuses-to-commit-to-australian-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/tennis\/rafael-nadal-raises-alarm-bells-as-spaniard-refuses-to-commit-to-australian-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Nadal raises alarm bells as Spaniard refuses to commit to Australian Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rafael Nadal has admitted that he still feels \u201cpain\u201d when he trains as he bids to try and return to competition. The 37-year-old has not played a match since January when he picked up a season-ending psoas injury. Nadal recently returned to the practice court but still can\u2019t commit to a comeback at the Australian Open as he continues to struggle with discomfort.<\/p>\n

There had originally been hopes that Nadal would be back Down Under come January when Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley announced his participation. \u201cWe can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back. He’s been off for most of the year, and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about. That’s awesome,\u201d he told the Today show.<\/p>\n

Nadal\u2019s team and the man himself quickly shut down those claims as the 22-time Major winner said he appreciated the \u201cvote of confidence\u201d from the Australian Open and was working hard to be back. And there has been no movement on Nadal\u2019s uncertainty about Australia as he again refused to commit to a return date.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first realistic option to be back on the professional court would be January in Australia, but right now, I really can\u2019t confirm something I don\u2019t know,\u201d the former world No 1 said during an event at Madrid\u2019s Museo del Traje. Nadal also confirmed that he was training more than he had done previously but everything else was still uncertain.<\/p>\n

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He continued: \u201cNothing has changed in the last few weeks except for the fact that I\u2019m training a bit more than before, which is an accomplishment for me and my mental health. I\u2019m on the right path but I\u2019m in unknown territory because it\u2019s an injury I haven\u2019t had before. Even so, I\u2019m still looking forward to it. I wish I could know when I\u2019m coming back but that\u2019s not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

And there have been positive signs coming out of Nadal\u2019s practices at his Mallorcan academy as he has continued to increase his intensity in every session. But the Spaniard caused concern as he admitted he was still dealing with pain, even if it allowed him to do a bit more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not training without pain. I\u2019m in less pain than I used to be, but I\u2019m still in pain,\u201d he explained. \u201cHowever, this pain allows me to do more and more things eventually. Things would be different if I had zero pain. I could give you a date for my return if I had zero pain because I would have time to prepare myself for that.<\/p>\n