The 22-time Grand Slam champion will make his comeback after a year-long absence from the competition due to an iliopsoas injury in his left leg at the Brisbane International, before competing at the 2024 Australian Open.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 37-year-old Nadal is undoubtedly coming towards the end of his career, but Medvedev, while discussing the return of the Spaniard with The National admitted he was still a daunting prospect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It's just that all the seasons that he played he wins a lot of matches and doesn't lose many. It's very tough to beat him,\" Medvedev told The National.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Actually, with Rafa maybe I even had even less success than with Novak in a way. But we had some tight matches where I felt like I could win and maybe he got the edge in the end. So, for me it's going to be a great challenge if I have to face him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I don't know at the moment his shape, no one knows, and how he's going to handle. But from what I saw, he seems to be doing good and that's great for tennis,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Medvedev had won four ATP titles but failed to win a Grand Slam title in 2023. He came close to the US Open but lost to Djokovic in the final. Medvedev had faced off with Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner a combined 12 times in 2023, winning four of those encounters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Besides Djokovic, Alcaraz was the other player to win the major this year, but Medvedev and Sinner are considered best of the rest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"For sure if we take last year and many, many different tournaments, we did separate a little bit from the rest at one point of the season and especially at the end, regarding the points,\" said Medvedev.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"But I do think that this also shows that every season can be different. Stefanos (Tsitsipas) made a final in Australian Open; for different reasons had a tougher end of the season, but he can come back there and pass me, Sinner or Carlos or Novak, anyone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"So, I would be still careful with something like this. I myself was out of top 10 last year, in the beginning of the season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"The only thing we're sure is Novak is always there. I could be out of 10, Novak is always there. So hopefully I can be part of this top four and whoever the other three guys and I'm going to try to do it,\" added the world no. 3 Medvedev.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/12\/medvedev-still-expects-nadal-to-be-great-challenge-in-2024-season-upon-injury-comeback.jpg", "alt_img": "Medvedev still expects Nadal to be 'great challenge' in 2024 season upon injury comeback", "alt_title": "Rafael Nadal trains in Kuwait ahead of comeback", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Medvedev Still Expects Nadal To Be 'great Challenge' In 2024 Season Upon Injury Comeback On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Medvedev Still Expects Nadal To Be 'great Challenge' In 2024 Season Upon Injury Comeback, New Delhi: World no 3 tennis player Daniil Medvedev admitted that Rafael Nadal is still expected to be a \"great.", "seo_keywords": "New Delhi, Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal, Grand Slam, Brisbane International, Australian Open, The National, US Open, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Besides Djokovic", "tag": "", "tagging": "New Delhi, Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal, Grand Slam, Brisbane International, Australian Open, The National, US Open, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Besides Djokovic", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "medvedev-still-expects-nadal-to-be-great-challenge-in-2024-season-upon-injury-comeback", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "622", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-12-24 20:00:03", "updated": "2023-12-24 20:00:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "New Delhi, Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal, Grand Slam, Brisbane International, Australian Open, The National, US Open, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Besides Djokovic", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2023-12-24 20:00:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "tennis", "cnmid": "842039", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/medvedev-still-expects-nadal-to-be-great-challenge-in-2024-season-upon-injury-comeback-11577" }