Toni:Its hard that Rafa will come back at the level he was,but he likes challenges

Rafael Nadal is always full of energy and ready to fight: “ Far from tennis courts now from several days, the Spanish is doing all he can to come back into the circuit in best shape. He took part in the afternoon in a conference about values in the sport area of the association “ Lo que mas Importa”, Toni Nadal to the microphones of radio El Larguero gave new details regarding the condition of his recipient: “ He’s fine. He’s tired of waiting and a bit frustrated because he would like to be already back on court, but he still has to wait a little. He’s very happy about the new treatment because it seems that things are getting better. His attitude doesn’t change because of an injury”.

About the ambitions at the come back: “ it’ll be difficult to reach the same level he was before, but we are focussing to make it possible. Rafa always liked challenges. Every year, at the beginning, we always wonder if it’ll be possible to obtain the level of the passed year or if there will be some new competitive player. But I’m confident and I think that Rafa will reach a good level.”

From a mental point of view nothing has changed: “ He’s a sports man who has a strong willing to play and compete. During the last days I see him happier because he will be soon able to come back and fight again.”

In the clinic area, surgery avoided: “ In this moment the surgery one, it’s an hypothesis not taken in consideration, after all we went through we want to avoid surgery, but if the need would hurt again in this two months… but it’s a medical deal, we made everything to avoid it. Doctors said not to do any kind of effort, but he started to run in the gym, so I think that in the next 10 or 15 days we’ll be able to go back carefully on court. Maybe for a harder court it will have to wait even a month and a half.”

Davis Cup Chapter: “ The final is a hypothesis that is not discarded, but I don’t think that the Spanish Captain will call Rafa who hasn’t played for 120 days. Spain luckily has other excellent players like Ferrer, Almagro, Verdasco and Feliciano.”

So when will it be the fatefull come- back? “ If he doesn’t come back for the Davis, the idea is to organize some matches in December to come back in Abu Dabi. Rafa need to play high level matches before definitively coming back in the circuit.”

Final words about the spare time: “ I spend a lot of time at home, my children asked me if I have been fired! I like to spend time with the family, but I want to work and travel around the world to compete. We eat together and we go to play golf for the moment. When you are subjected to an injury, the first period is the hardest because you don’t know how long could it last. Now that we see the light at the end of the tunnel the mood has improved a lot.”

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Rafael Nadal is always full of energy and ready to fight: “ Far from tennis courts now from several days, the Spanish is doping all he can to come back into the circuit in best shape. He took part in the afternoon in a conference about values in the sport area of the association “ Lo que mas Importa”, Toni Nadal to the microphones of radio El Larguero gave new details regarding the condition of his recipient: “ He’s fine. He’s tired of waiting and a bit frustrated because he would like to be already back on court, but he still has to wait a little. He’s very happy about the new treatment because it seems that things are getting better. His attitude doesn’t change because of an injury”.

About the ambitions at the come back: “ it’ll be difficult to reach the same level he was before, but we are focussing to make it possible. Rafa always liked challenges. Every year, at the beginning, we always wonder if it’ll be possible to obtain the level of the passed year or if there will be some new competitive player. But I’m confident and I think that Rafa will reach a good level.”

From a mental point of view nothing has changed: “ He’s a sports man who has a strong willing to play and compete. During the last days I see him happier because he will be soon able to come back and fight again.”

In the clinic area, surgery avoided: “ In this moment the surgery one, it’s an hypothesis not taken in consideration, after all we went through we want to avoid surgery, but if the need would hurt again in this two months… but it’s a medical deal, we made everything to avoid it. Doctors said not to do any kind of effort, but he started to run in the gym, so I think that in the next 10 or 15 days we’ll be able to go back carefully on court. Maybe for a harder court it will have to wait even a month and a half.”

Davis Cup Chapter: “ The final is a hypothesis that is not discarded, but I don’t think that the Spanish Captain will call Rafa who hasn’t played for 120 days. Spain luckily has other excellent players like Ferrer, Almagro, Verdasco and Feliciano.”

So when will it be the fatefull come- back? “ If he doesn’t come back for the Davis, the idea is to organize some matches in December to come back in Abu Dabi. Rafa need to play high level matches before definitively coming back in the circuit.”

Final words about the spare time: “ I spend a lot of time at home, my children asked me if I have been fired! I like to spend time with the family, but I want to work and travel around the world to compete. We eat together and we go to play golf for the moment. When you are subjected to an injury, the first period is the hardest because you don’t know how long could it last. Now that we see the light at the end of the tunnel the mood has improved a lot.”

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Toni is probably just lowering the expectations. Providing Nadal rests sufficiently then I don't really see why he won't attain something close to a peak level for a little while longer.

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Tafmatch said:

That's probaby right. As Rafa fans on this forum have alreay pointed out it's a guarantee that he'll win AO en RG next year. Toni knows this.

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RAFA2005RG said:

I personally thing Nadal winning Roland Garros is the only guarantee in professional sport, barring Nadal's parents divorcing.

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Clarky21 said:

Toni is right. It is going to be near impossible for Nadal to get back to the top or win anymore slams. They know it,and are not getting their hopes up because they know he's done.

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Prisoner of Birth said:

Nadal at 80% can still win Roland Garros.

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Clarky21 said:

Not with ******* around he can't. There are other players like Delpo and even Murray who can give him fits as well.

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Prisoner of Birth said:

The only year Djokovic gave Nadal trouble on clay was 2011, when he was basically Super-Man. He'll be 26 next year when the French Open happens, 2 years past his peak.

And there's no way Murray can do anything to Nadal on Clay, that's his worst surface. I doubt he'd beat even 31 year-old Federer on Clay.

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Clarky21 said:

I disagree. With Nadal practically put out to pasture,and Andy starting his peak I think he can beat Nadal on clay. He did take a set off of him in MC last year,and has always given Nadal tough matches. He will end up beating Nadal more often than not in the future.

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Clarky21 said:

I disagree. With Nadal practically put out to pasture,and Andy starting his peak I think he can beat Nadal on clay. He did take a set off of him in MC last year,and has always given Nadal tough matches. He will end up beating Nadal more often than not in the future.

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No1e said:

Stupid **** again. Grandpa Fed is 2000 years past his prime, and he is still winning slams. If you think everyone's career has to follow his, you'd better bet Djokovic can win whatever he likes.

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NadalDramaQueen said:

Grandpa Fed is 2012 years past his prime, of course. The second coming is never as good as the first.

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*Sparkle* said:

I think a good rest, and lowered expectations from others can work to his advantage, but I do think age is a factor in how well you bounce back from an absence. IMO, he's still young enough and keen enough to do it this time, but I think he'd struggle if he needed another extended absence in a couple of year's time.

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veroniquem said:

I agree. The positive is that Rafa loves being the underdog. It's a situation that suits him perfectly. He likes to lower people's expectations in general. The negative is: time is ruthless and it's not easy to win titles after 27 years old although currently title winners tend to be older than they used to be.

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Prisoner of Birth said:

Only because the big 4 are so dominant.

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