Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will be taking no part in the Masters 1000 events at Indian Wells and Miami but he does seem to be positive about his return to action.
A hip injury suffered at the Australian Open has scuppered Nadal’s plans to travel to the United States but, with Grand Slam events the focus for the veteran, the Spaniard appears to be upbeat he can be back competing for major titles this season.
Melbourne Setback Hampers Plans
Having claimed the Australian Open and French Open titles in 2022, there was plenty of excitement for what Nadal could do at the start of this new season. The 36-year-old, who is 5/2 in the betting on sports online to win the French Open again this year, saw his early-season hopes of a 23rd Grand Slam title dashed with a hip injury in his second-round defeat at the Australian Open. Rated at 17/2 and a serious contender in sports betting tips online to win Wimbledon later this year, Nadal has been forced to endure a spell out on the sidelines to get himself ready for Roland-Garros and the All England Club. Initially, reports had suggested Nadal would be out of action for up to eight weeks but it has taken slightly longer to recover.
The positive news coming out of the Nadal camp is that after weeks of physio and gym work, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has made a gradual return to training on court. The events at Indian Wells and Miami have come slightly too soon for Nadal but it is important he doesn’t rush a return too soon and risk his chances of playing at his beloved French Open in May.
Building Towards Roland-Garros The Aim
With the focus on trying to beat the likes of rival Novak Djokovic and win an incredible 15th Grand Slam title at the French Open, Nadal is building towards reaching top fitness and form in Paris. The clay court season in Europe gets underway on April 9 and Nadal will be eager to return in time for the Monte Carlo Masters, an event that also holds happy memories for him. Nadal had managed to win the tournament in Monaco 11 times before and, if fit, will be the man to beat once again this year. Outlasting his old rival and friend Roger Federer, Nadal is still edging towards retirement and his appearances at the Monte Carlo Masters are edging towards a conclusion.
Speaking of his recovery from his hip injury, Nadal has said he was disappointed he will be taking no part at Indian Wells or Miami. However, on a more positive note, he did say he was aiming to come back in the best condition and is looking forward to heading back to the US later this year. Nadal has had his injury problems in the past and knows that patience, as well as hard work behind the scenes, is key to getting back to the top of his game.
While the start of 2023 has been far from ideal, there are still the three Grand Slam events still to challenge for and Nadal is hungry to add to his long list of successes in the biggest tournaments tennis has to offer.