Rafael Nadal returned to tennis after an absence of an entire season. He aimed to make it a dream run and end his career on a high note as he focused on full recovery. However, the Spaniard faced an injury again and announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open and subsequent tournaments to recover in time for the French Open. While the Spaniard is positive about his recovery, John McEnroe is wary of what could happen if Nadal cannot recover in time, making the possibility of not seeing him playing anymore, a real one.
The tennis world was relieved when it saw the return of one of its greatest legends in Brisbane. However, the veteran’s progress hit a roadblock once again. Speaking to ESPN, John McEnroe said Rafa’s career will be in trouble if he can’t recover for the Roland Garros in time. He said, “I think Rafa was always thinking, ‘hopefully, I’ll be ready for the French and see if my body holds up there’”.
McEnroe continued, “And if it doesn’t, I think you’ll see him not play anymore. But we’re all obviously hopeful that he can because Rafa’s been amazing for the game, obviously, so we’d like to see him as long as we can.”
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Rafael Nadal attained his injury during his match against Jordan Thompson, which was later revealed to be a micro tear in his muscle. He did not want to take any chances with his health, hence the withdrawal, putting a damper on the excitement of many.
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John McEnroe believes Rafael Nadal can still be a contender
Like most of the tennis world, McEnroe waited on bated breath to watch the Spaniard throw down on the court again. His return matches doubled his excitement as he found Rafa to be hitting quite well, despite not having played for a year. Now, McEnroe believes the French Open and the Olympics will be the ultimate goal for Rafael Nadal.
Although he is worried about his health, he believes that if Rafael Nadal is issue-free during these tournaments, he will be a big contender for both titles. Rafa will ensure he can return to the sport later this year. However, the situation is not looking good from numerous points of view. Can he make his last season a banger?
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