Final Up to date: December 28, 2022, 09:49 IST
Rafael Nadal performed his first Australian Open in 2004. (AP Photograph)
Rafael Nadal, who has a document males’s 22 Grand Slam titles to Novak Djokovic’s 21, stated he was comfortable to see his famous person rival again
A “extremely motivated” Rafael Nadal welcomed rival Novak Djokovic’s much-anticipated return to the Australian Open as “good for tennis” on Wednesday, whereas dismissing ideas this can be his final tilt on the season-opening Grand Slam.
The 36-year-old Spanish nice, who not too long ago grew to become a father, is starting his new season on the United Cup, a brand new mixed-teams occasion beginning Thursday in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
It’s going to present a warm-up for his defence of the Australian Open title subsequent month at Melbourne Park, the place he swept previous Russian Daniil Medvedev to win this 12 months in an epic five-setter.
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That victory got here after arch-rival and nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic was detained and deported forward of the match after refusing to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for guests to point out proof of vaccination towards Covid. The Serb arrived again within the nation on Tuesday for the primary time since being turfed out.
Nadal, who has a document males’s 22 Grand Slam titles to Djokovic’s 21, stated he was comfortable to see his famous person rival again.
“Novak is right here, good for tennis, good for in all probability the followers,” the world quantity two stated in Sydney. “Let’s see, no? Finest gamers on court docket all the time win.”
Fifth-ranked Djokovic will start his quest for an unbelievable tenth title at Melbourne Park on the Adelaide Worldwide from Sunday.
Nadal backed up his Australian Open win this 12 months with a 14th French Open however struggled with damage after withdrawing from the Wimbledon semi-final with an belly tear in July.
Regardless of a poor second half of the 12 months, Nadal stated he was raring to go once more with a conflict first up on the United Cup towards British world quantity 14 Cameron Norrie forward of a blockbuster showdown with Australia’s Nick Kyrgios.
“The best motivation to attempt to begin properly. It’s all the time essential to begin properly for me, for the arrogance,” he stated.
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“The previous few months haven’t been straightforward for me. Predominant factor for me now’s recuperate the optimistic emotions on court docket, being aggressive. I hope to. I’m able to make that occur, however let’s see.”
Nadal performed his first Australian Open in 2004. He’s now a father, and with a historical past of accidents he was requested if this might be his final journey to Australia.
“As an expert, you by no means know, hopefully not,” he stated.
“I imply, when you’re on the age of 36, you by no means know when it’s going to be the final one. It’s apparent, however I don’t like to speak about that as a result of I’m not in that temper now.
“I’m simply targeted on attempting to play on the highest stage attainable and provides myself potentialities to maintain being aggressive, to combat for something. That’s my aim now.
“I’m not occupied with it being my final time right here. I’m comfortable doing what I’m doing. I’m wanting ahead to maintain doing this.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)