WATCH: Rafael Nadal flexes his muscles in his latest workout clip as he prepares for his final season

Nadal will be making his much-awaited comeback to tennis in the 2024 Australian Open after a year-long break due to injury.

WATCH: Rafael Nadal flexes his muscles in his latest workout clip as he prepares for his final season

Rafael Nadal (Source: Instagram)

Rafael Nadal suffered a hip flexor injury during the 2022 Australian Open, which ruled him out for the entire season. He underwent an arthroscopic surgery, which he was earlier expected to recover from within a few months, but it took the Spaniard an entire year to fully recover and he is still in rehabilitation. The 22-time Grand Slam winner will be making his much-awaited return in the 2022 Australian Open. 

Nadal recently released a video on his Instagram where he can be seen working out in the gym. He is training heavily for the 2023 Australian Open as, after all, it is going to be his last season, which the Spaniard has already announced. Nadal will be retiring after the 2024 season and it is thus important that he remain fit for the entirety of it. 

YouTube video

By the end of the 2023 season, the Spaniard will be ranked outside of the ATP Top 600, which is his lowest in the last 21 years. However, there is not much that he could do about it, as he was away from the court for exactly a year. This might, in fact, help in adding to the Spaniard’s hunger to perform well in the upcoming Australian Open. 

FS Video
https://twitter.com/Olly_Tennis_/status/1724365024289050894?t=4bg-mn6uO-0wXcYhX3Ydtg&s=19

However, Nadal has already asked his fans to not keep unrealistic expectations of his return as he is not doing it himself. He is aware of the fact that he will not be winning Grand Slam titles right after making the comeback. 

Yes, I would like to play again and be competitive again, but the dream is not to come back and win Roland Garros or win Australia, so that people don't get confused, right? 

Rafael Nadal’s record in the Australian Open 

Nadal has taken part in the Australian Open 18 times. He has been in the finals a total of six times, winning the title twice and being the runner-up four times. He won the titles in 2009 and 2022.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Source: Sky Sports)

Thus, his last title in the tournament came fairly recently. In fact, the Spaniard had headed into the 2023 Australian Open as the defending champion, but had to pull out of it due to his hip flexor injury. 

Fans are more excited about his performance in the 2024 French Open though, as the Spaniard has simply dominated the clay-court tournament since making his debut in 2005. He has taken part in a total of 18 editions of the French Open and won 14 titles in the tournament. Thus, he has practically made it his own tournament. 

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