Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal believes Novak Djokovic's much-anticipated return to the Australian Open is “good for tennis”.

I’m looking forward to keep doing this.” “Last trip to Australia? “As a professional, you never know, hopefully not. Nadal enjoyed an incredible start to the 2022 season with wins at the Australian Open and a 14th French Open title before injuries crept up on him. As he gears up for the first edition of the United Cup in Australia, Nadal welcomed Djokovic's return to the country. Rafael Nadal believes Novak Djokovic’s much-anticipated return to the Australian Open is “good for tennis”.

Rafael Nadal has lauded the talents of Nick Kyrgios and claimed he has the capability to win in any tournament, as the Australian Open nears.

When you are at the age of 36, you never know when it's going to be the last one. If it's the last time, let's try to enjoy it as much as possible. Just focus on try to play at the highest level possible and give myself the possibility to keep being competitive, to fight for anything. He has all the talent, the weapons to win against any player. Let's try to create something special. The world No. "I know he doesn't like a lot to play Roland Garros. "He can win in any tournament that he's playing. ['Try to cut off everything that happened last year' - Swiatek 'focussing on future' ahead of 2023](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/united-cup-2/2023/iga-swiatek-to-cut-off-everything-that-happened-last-year-reveals-doubts-at-assuming-ash-barty-no.-1_sto9290825/story.shtml) [‘Past few months haven't been easy for me’ - Nadal on Australian Open build-up](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/united-cup-2/2023/rafael-nadal-wants-to-recover-positive-feelings-ahead-of-2023-australian-open-at-united-cup_sto9290721/story.shtml) ['We welcome him back' - Djokovic lands in Australia a year after deportation](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/australian-open/2023/novak-djokovic-returns-to-australia-a-year-after-deportation-ahead-of-australian-open-we-welcome-him_sto9290012/story.shtml) Rafael Nadal has lauded the talents of Nick Kyrgios and claimed the Australian has the capability to win "in any tournament". "The rest of the tournaments, he played final in Wimbledon, and in New York he was close to the finals I think, with a very positive chance. That's the only tournament that looks like he doesn't like to play that much," Nadal said ahead of his own United Cup bow for Spain.

It will provide a warm-up for his defence of the Australian Open title next month at Melbourne Park, where he swept past Russian Daniil Medvedev to win this ...

Best players on court always win.” Fifth-ranked Djokovic will begin his quest for an incredible 10th title at Melbourne Park at the Adelaide International from Sunday [Market Bullish on Equities as Indices Eye New Highs](/epaper/delhicapital/2022/dec/28/et-front/market-bullish-on-equities-as-indices-eye-new-highs/articleshow/96553670.cms) The 36-year-old Spanish great, who recently became a father, is beginning his new season at the [United Cup](/topic/united-cup), a new mixed-teams event starting Thursday in [Sydney](/topic/sydney), Brisbane and Perth. [Rafael Nadal](/topic/rafael-nadal)welcomed rival [Novak Djokovic](/topic/novak-djokovic)’s much-anticipated return to the Australian Open as “good for tennis” Wednesday, while brushing off suggestions this may be his last tilt at the season-opening [Grand Slam](/topic/grand-slam).

Rafael Nadal says he will focus on “recovering positive feelings” on the court prior to the defence of his Australian Open title.

Then for me I think is to try to win the first tie as a team more than any individual match. I just try to have the right practice here before the tournament starts. Then of course, try to help the team. “For everybody [it] is a new thing, all the doubts, how things [are] going to go. “Always the beginning of the season is exciting,” Nadal told the press. In October, Nadal's wife Maria Francisca Perello gave birth to the couple's first son.

Djokovic missed the 2022 tournament after being deported from Australia over his COVID-19 vaccination status.

"I think as we speak he has landed in Adelaide and he's going to be the player to beat (at the Australian Open) again." Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said in a press conference this week that Djokovic, per usual, will be the toughest competitor. Nadal is currently training in Sydney as he will be competing at the inaugural United Cup, which starts on Dec. His return means Rafael Nadal will have more difficulty defending his 2022 Australian Open title, but the Spanish veteran says he is glad to see Djokovic competing. They have often been referred to as part of the Big 3, a group that also included Rodger Federer -- who retired from the ATP Tour and Grand Slam competitions in 2022. [top searched athlete on Google in 2022](https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/novak-djokovic-rafael-nadal-serena-williams-are-googles-most-searched-athletes-of-2022/) -- has won at Melbourne Park a record nine times.

Rafael Nadal is aiming to "recover positive feelings" ahead of launching his 2023 season at the inaugural United Cup.

"I am ready to make that happen, but let's see. I just try to have the right practice here before the tournament starts. Then of course, try to help the team.

United Cup 2023, Rafael Nadal, Australia, United Cup, French, Grand Slam haul, Roland Garros, Wimbledon semi-final, abdominal injury, AO23 LIVE,

It’s always a victory to see the best on court,” added Nadal. I’m ready to do it, but we’ll see,” Nadal told a news conference on Wednesday. The 36-year-old won the Australian and French Open trophies this year to increase his Grand Slam haul to a men’s record 22 but he required pain-numbing injections on his foot during his run to the Roland Garros title and then had to withdraw from his Wimbledon semi-final with an abdominal injury.

Djokovic had his visa cancelled and was deported ahead of the 2022 Australian Open due to his vaccination status. He had originally obtained a medical exemption ...

Rafael Nadal is part of the Spanish team that will compete in the United Cup, which begins on Thursday, December 29 in Australia…

At 36 years old, the Spaniard is close to the end of his career and journalists have asked him about the possibility that this will be his last trip to Australia as a professional player – but he evidently hopes not. When you are at the age of 36, you never know when [is] going to be the last one. Just try to have the right practice here before the tournament starts, then, of course, try to help the team. It’s always important to start well for me, for the confidence. He left 2022 with a victory over Casper Ruud in the ATP Finals but an elimination in the group stage in Turin and a season that did not last as long as he would have hoped. [Rafael Nadal](https://www.tennismajors.com/our-features/lists-our-features/rafael-nadal-roland-garros-carlos-moya-real-madrid-10-questions-you-may-ask-about-the-spaniard-79766.html) posted a photo of himself on his Instagram account where he can be seen training in Sydney, one of the three cities that will host the United Cup from December 29.

"My main goal now is to regain positive feelings on the court and to be competitive, and I hope to do that," Nadal said during a news conference on ...

The extent of the injury prompted Nadal to consider whether he would be forced to retire from tennis. Speaking last week to Marca, the two-time Australian Open ...

I mean, when you are at the age of 36, you never know when it's going to be the last one. Then I started to play well but I was far from imagining what was going to happen next in Melbourne, with one of the most exciting finals I've ever played.” He came from two sets down in the final to beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a gruelling match and claim his 21st Grand Slam title.

Rafael Nadal will be out to defend his Australian Open title next month.

And at a press conference this week, Nadal was asked about both players being in the Australian Open: “His presence (Djokovic's) here in Australia is good for tennis and the fans, it's only right that the best players are always there," he said. [Wimbledon](/latest/wimbledon) final for the first time. Last year, the Spaniard won at Albert Park in epic fashion, [coming from two sets down in the final to beat Daniil Medvedev](/sport/tennis/1558134/Rafael-Nadal-Daniil-Medvedev-Australian-Open-final-Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-tennis) and claim a record breaking 21st Grand Slam title - a number he duly extended to 22 at the [French Open](/latest/french-open).

The Spaniard, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles so far had a good season in 2022. He won four tour-level titles that included Australian Open and French Open ...

The United Cup will be the only tournament that Nadal will be playing ahead of the Australian Open this year. United Cup 2023: World No.2 Rafael Nadal is gearing up for the 2023 season in the ATP Tour. The Spaniard is all set to participate in the inaugural edition of the United that began on 29th December, 2022 Thursday.

Rafael Nadal was asked whether the 2023 Australian Open could be his last as he prepares for his title defence in Melbourne.

"Of course it has been a drastic change, but I have to organize myself to be able to continue doing my professional life in the best possible way,” he added. If that's the last time, let's try to enjoy as much as possible. Rafael Nadal provided a candid but cryptic response when asked if he was gearing up to compete in his last Australian Open next month. The 36-year-old is ranked 2nd in the world after claiming his 21st and 22nd Grand Slam titles in 2022. And Nadal has not ruled out January's Australian Open visit being his last. An undisputed icon of the sport, Nadal clearly still wants to compete for major honours.