\u201cI\u2019m well, training, and happy,\u201d said the 22-time Grand Slam champion on Wednesday. \u201cI\u2019m at a good stage of my life. Until now I didn\u2019t know if I would play tennis again someday, and now I genuinely believe I will. I\u2019m still not ready to say when, but I\u2019m able to train increasingly longer, and the progress is good,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe know that the pain will never disappear, but I\u2019ve taken a step forward,\u201d said the Spaniard. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot for me. Talking about tennis is another matter altogether, as is the level I\u2019ll be able to play at. But the steps toward trying to play again have been big and positive, which is what we have been fighting for for several months. I\u2019m confident I\u2019ll be able to say something more specific in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After picking up an injury at the Australian Open and then withdrawing from several tournaments, including Roland Garros, Nadal underwent an operation on 2 June in Barcelona and started his long recovery period, from which he is now starting to emerge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always maintained hope that I would play again,\u201d said Nadal. \u201cHow much? At what level? It\u2019s difficult to answer that. I never lost hope I\u2019d play. Things gradually become clear with the passing of the weeks. At the moment I\u2019m on the right track.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nadal, 37, said he has not set himself the loftiest goals, like playing in the Paris Olympics or going for Novak Djokovic\u2019s Grand Slam record (24 compared to the Mallorcan\u2019s 22). It is not about that; it is a case of a return that would represent the personal achievement of having recovered when there was no light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t played for a year,\u201d reiterated the Spaniard. \u201cPersonal success is often more rewarding than general success. The hope is that I\u2019ll play again. You never know what will happen. My gut says it will be very difficult to get back to a good level of tennis. If I wasn\u2019t hopeful of trying to be competitive, I wouldn\u2019t be doing everything I\u2019ve done over the past months at my age and after a long career,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe years pass by. My hope is that I will play again, and that is hugely satisfying to me on a personal level. I won\u2019t win more Grand Slams than Djokovic, but I will have the chance to enjoy myself again.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An opportunity to see the Spaniard compete on a tennis court again seems to be drawing ever nearer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/11\/nadal-confirms-he-will-play-again-ive-taken-a-big-step-forward.jpg", "alt_img": "Nadal confirms he will play again: 'I've taken a big step forward'", "alt_title": "Nadal confirms he will play again: 'I've taken a big step forward'", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Nadal Confirms He Will Play Again: 'I've Taken A Big Step Forward' On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Nadal Confirms He Will Play Again: 'I've Taken A Big Step Forward', Nitto ATP Finals: Although the 2023 ATP Tour season is yet to reach its conclusion, with the Nitto ATP Finals.", "seo_keywords": "Photo Credit, ATP Tour, Nitto ATP Finals, Rafael Nadal, Australian Open, Grand Slam, Roland Garros, Paris Olympics, Novak Djokovic, Grand Slams", "tag": "", "tagging": "Photo Credit, ATP Tour, Nitto ATP Finals, Rafael Nadal, Australian Open, Grand Slam, Roland Garros, Paris Olympics, Novak Djokovic, Grand Slams", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "nadal-confirms-he-will-play-again-ive-taken-a-big-step-forward", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "650", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-11-16 12:34:03", "updated": "2023-11-16 12:34:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Photo Credit, ATP Tour, Nitto ATP Finals, Rafael Nadal, Australian Open, Grand Slam, Roland Garros, Paris Olympics, Novak Djokovic, Grand Slams", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2023-11-16 12:34:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "tennis", "cnmid": "823683", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/nadal-confirms-he-will-play-again-ive-taken-a-big-step-forward-10385" }