Rafael Nadal accepts defeat to Novak Djokovic in race for most Grand Slam titles as he makes a ‘bold’ public admission

Novak Djokovic current has 24 Grand Slam titles, which is two more than Rafael Nadal's tally.

Rafael Nadal accepts defeat to Novak Djokovic in race for most Grand Slam titles as he makes a ‘bold’ public admission

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (Image via Daily Express)

Rafael Nadal recently said in a heartbreaking statement that he has accepted defeat against Novak Djokovic in the race for the most Grand Slam titles. Nadal won his 22nd Grand Slam in the 2022 French Open and that was the last major he won. Following that, he got injured in the 2023 Australian Open and had to stay away from the court for the entire 2023 season.

Taking advantage of this perfect opportunity, Novak Djokovic won three Grand Slams in the 2023 season and took his total tally to 24, becoming the player with the most Grand Slams in the sport’s history. 

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Although Rafael Nadal will be making his return to tennis soon in 2024, it will most probably be his last season. The Spaniard is aware of the fact that he won’t be able to compete for Grand Slams directly after his return.

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I don’t know to what level I will be able to return, but I have never lost this illusion. I haven't played in a year and for me, my personal success is maintaining the excitement of playing again. I feel that it will be difficult to return to a high level of tennis, but if I had not had the hope of being competitive again, I would not have done the work that I have done these months and the efforts that this implies after a very long career.
Rafael Nadal (H/T: We Love Tennis)

Thus, he has admitted that the Serb will go down as the player with the most Grand Slams in tennis history. He clarified he wants to be competitive again but that will not necessarily translate into him winning majors. 

I'm not going to win more Grand Slam tournaments than Djokovic, but I'm going to give myself the opportunity to have fun again. 

Will Rafael Nadal return at the 2024 Australian Open?

Earlier, the Australian Open’s tournament director, Craig Tiley, revealed that he had spoken to Rafa and that he would be making his return at the 2024 Australian Open. However, in his latest statement, the Spaniard did not give an exact date for his return but said that he would return soon.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Source: Sky Sports)

Rafa said that earlier he wasn’t even sure whether he would return to the court at all. “I’m at a good stage of my life. Until now I didn’t know if I would play tennis again someday, and now I genuinely believe I will,” he said. 

He had to pull out of the 2023 Australian Open after injuring his hip flexor in the tournament. Rafa underwent arthroscopic surgery in June and took a long time to recover, which wiped off his entire season. Luckily, he is very close to making a return now. 

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