The keys to Nadal's return in style in 2024

A few years ago, Rafael Nadal, like Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, competed almost exclusively for what he had been called to do.. The Big Three, which is now fading, narrowed its calendar as the three-year periods fell, establishing its border in the Grand Slam tournaments, where the fight, without Federer, still continues.

All the selective efforts were aimed at expanding his incomparable results in the majors, in an exciting race against time. Although to find Federer's last great one you have to go back to the 2018 Australian Open, just look at last year to find the Spaniard as champion at the Australian Open and at Roland Garros before a new injury, in that case of an abdominal nature, prevented him from playing the Wimbledon semifinals against Nick Kyrgios. The champion was Djokovic, just like on his return to Melbourne earlier this year.

It is there, in the greats, where Nadal can be expected on his return. As he himself specified, and in accordance with his career, he does not intend to return as a “comparsa”. Tennis travels very quickly, at the speed that Carlos Alcaraz prints and, in a carriage still far away, players like Holger Rune, who passed over Djokovic in Rome on Wednesday, or Jannik Sinner, the oldest of the three, at 21 years old. .

Rafa Nadal announces that he will not go to Roland Garros and temporarily retires from tennis

In the case of Nadal, and with his proven exercise in resilience and competitiveness since the beginning of his career, in no way can categorical judgments be established that deny the chances of success in his return, for which he did not want to set a date.

the ground tour

It is clear that it will not be a merely sentimental parade for the tournaments he chooses, among which will also be, in addition to the majors, those with a special meaning for him, read the Davis Cup and the Olympic Games, as he announced, in addition to Barcelona and Madrid, within that land tour in which he will try to get ready for a final assault on the cup at Roland Garros, already on the border of 38 years. If anywhere deserves the utmost confidence, it is in Paris, with all the risk involved in managing hypotheses for the spring of 2024.

Nadal steps aside when strong winds of change are blowing led by Alcaraz, the top favorite to take over at this Roland Garros. It is difficult to conceive of the tournament without his presence. Since he played it for the first time, 18 years ago, only two players, Djokovic, twice, and Robin Soderling have managed to defeat him. 112 wins. three defeats. 14 titles. Physically and mentally exhausted, after his vain efforts to arrive on time for his appointment, the left-handed man decides to stop. Already in the last edition, then under the scourge of Müller Weiss syndrome, he won the tournament after playing all the matches undercover, which did not prevent him from appearing at Wimbledon with the flight reviewed.

Faced with the cold sweat that broke out in newsrooms across the country in the event that he announced his final retirement, Nadal does not say goodbye but see you soon. The decision not to play Roland Garros was within logic, after the successive casualties throughout the entire tour of the ground. With the calendar that comes ahead, Wimbledon was not in sight as the best alternative to reappear, in the event that his body had allowed it.. This Thursday he once again dropped his illusion of playing the Davis Cup again, whose Finals will have their first phase in Valencia from September 12 to 17. Who knows, maybe then we will see him again shortly, in a competition where he has also marked an era.