Rafael Nadal’s comeback promise after Aussie Open defence ruined

Rafael Nadal has promised to come back after a hip injury left the tennis world pondering how much the Spanish champion has left to give.

Nadal has promised to come back. Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Rafael Nadal has made his intention to keep playing tennis clear after his second round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald, but whether he’ll be able to is another matter.

The defending Australian Open champion was knocked out of the tournament in the second round on Wednesday by American Mackenzie McDonald, who won 6-4 6-4 7-5.

But it was a fresh injury concern that left the tennis world bracing for the worst.

During the second set, a stretch for a ball had him calling the physio, which a devastated Nadal told media after the match was for his hip.

“It has been a couple of days like this, but nothing like today in that movement,” he said.

“ … I don’t know what’s going on, if it’s muscle, if it’s joint. I have history in the hip that I had issues. I had to do treatments in the past, address a little. Was not this amount of problem. Now I feel I cannot move.”

Nadal managed to shut down rumours a retirement announcement was imminent by stating he hoped the injury would not keep him off the court for long.

He added: “I went through this process (recovering from injury) too many times in my career, and I am ready to keep doing, I think, but that’s not easy, without a doubt.

“In the end, I can’t complain about my life at all. Just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, that’s another one. I just can’t say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying.”

But at 36-years-old, how many more times can Nadal come back?

Rafael Nadal was not in a good way. Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP

Nadal has been injury prone in recent seasons in particular and the retirement of Roger Federer has turned the spotlight on the Spaniard, even though he’s less than a year older than Novak Djokovic, who doesn’t seem to have the same speculation following him.

Before the Australian Open, Nadal was asked about retirement and he fired back: “Every time that I am coming to a press conference it seems that I have to retire.

“So, you are very, very interested in my retirement. I mean, that, for the moment, is not the case.

“When this day arrives, I’m gonna let you know guys. Don’t keep going with the retirement (questions) because I’m going to keep playing tennis.”

He added: “When arrive the day that is go out on the court and say, that’s getting hard, is the day to say goodbye.”

Nadal, who had been professing he was well prepared for the tournament despite a poor record since returning to the court.

Leading into the tournament with losses to Cam Norrie and Alex de Minaur in the United Cup, it’s continued a sorry trend for Nadal.

After the Wimbledon withdrawal, Nadal’s had two exits after his first matches of two tournaments, a fourth round exit at the US Open and one win from three matches at the ATP Finals, where he seemed out of sorts, with a record of 4-7 before the start of the tournament.

Nadal battled past Jack Draper in the first round of the Australian Open before the straight sets loss to McDonald.

Asked whether his physiotherapist had advised him to stop playing on Wednesday, Nadal said he didn’t ask for advice.

“I am old enough to make my own decisions … I didn’t want to leave the court,” he said.

“Just try your best till the end. Doesn’t matter the chances that you have. That’s the philosophy of the sport.”

Nadal fought to the end. Picture: David Caird

Nadal was also asked what motivated him to keep coming back after injury.

“It’s a very simple thing: I like what I do. I like playing tennis,” he said, adding “I know it’s not forever.”

Nadal said he needed to avoid spending a long time off the court because it made it “super difficult” to be ready “for the things that I really want to fight.”

“Let’s see how the injury is, and then let’s see how I can manage to follow the calendar,” he said.

There has been much talk about when the 22-time Grand Slam champion will retire.

World No. 13 Alexander Zverev has suggested Nadal may retire after this year’s French Open, famously his most successful Slam, having won it a staggering 14 times.

“I don’t want it to happen, but I think he will have a great tournament, potentially win it and say goodbye”, said Zverev in a 2023 predictions video for Eurosport.

Nadal has promised to come back. Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP

In commentary during Wednesday’s match, American tennis legend Jim Courier pondered how long it would be before Nadal came back, and whether he would return Down Under again.

“Nadal has been struggling to find his game since he suffered the abdominal injury at Wimbledon last year,” Courier said.

“This is far more troubling for Nadal than just simply not being in form. He’s now not in fitness. How long will it be before we get to see him out competing again?

“So much admiration for Nadal, staying with it, so many of his peers in the locker room would have shaken hands after the injury, unable to play the way that they normally could.

“That’s not in his constitution, he stayed with it. Probably against the advice of his medical team who are up in the stands.

“You never know what to read into moments like that.

“You can obviously imagine he will be back, also imagine that he won’t be back. This might be the last time here. Let’s hope it’s not. But if it is he certainly left a big mark.”

Originally published as Rafael Nadal’s comeback promise after Aussie Open defence ruined