Can Rafael Nadal win the next Australian Open? – Tennis Special
Reigning world number four, Rafael Nadal, does not expect to return to his former top class performance at the Australian Open 2013.
He foresees his complete recovery by April and then will fully return to for the clay courts events in the middle of the season.
In an interview Nadal said, “I will be aiming to be 100 per cent fit in Monte Carlo, then ready set for the Roland Garros event. I have the goal of returning in Abu Dhabi but neither that nor Australia are the end of the world for me. I will only come back
when I am fit. I won’t come back worrying about my knee. Miracles do not exist and I am unlikely to return and compete in Australia. But, then, the results won’t worry me in those opening few tournaments back on the circuit.”
The left-hander challenger commenced his season at a decent pace. He was finalist at the hard courts of Melbourne at the Australian Open 2012, securing an upper hand against all the other challengers. He defeated the Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer in the semi-finals
but the Serbian champion, Novak Djokovic, laid him down in the final round.
At the BNP Paribas Open held at the hard courts of Indian Wells, he came across the Swiss veteran, Federer, in the semi-finals. The right-hander senior avenged his former loss and consolidated his win in straight sets match, 6-3, 6-4.
At the Sony Ericsson Open held at the hard courts of Miami, Nadal faced the British number one, Andy Murray in the semi-finals. The Spaniard was unable to defend his winning streak and withdrew without showing any resistance.
The 26-year-old clinched his winning momentum in the start of the clay court tournament of Internazionali BNL d’Italia. He bagged home his victory against compatriot, David Ferrer, in straight sets. Furthermore, he swiftly rallied forward against the reigning
world champion, Djokovic, engraving his 6-3, 6-1 lead in the final round.
The former world number one secured his remarkable win at the French Open; he prevailed over his new compatriots, Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro. In the final round of the Grand Slam, he snatched away his triumph in a four set match from the Serbian junior, Djokovic.
He ended his current year’s career in the green grass courts of Wimbledon and was unable to defend his gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics. However, the exhibition tournament in Abu-Dhabi will surely help him tune up!
The 11-times Grand Slam Champion has not contested for any tournament since June 2012, as he was plagued with a critical knee injury. On the other hand, he did not lose his morale and continued his fight against all his troubles, undergoing a major surgical
treatment. He is fully aware of the pressure of competitive tennis and shall indisputably take a little time to unveil his true colours.
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