Nadal Eyes Return to the Court in January

November 19, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Rafael Nadal, who has missed the better portion of the last quarter of 2014, said on Tuesday that he will back on the court competing at the first tournament in January.

“I will play in Abu Dhabi in January,” said Nadal. “And after that, I will play my first official tournament in Doha.”

The 14-time Grand Slam champion missed the ATP Finals last week because of appendicitis and is set to undergo stem cell treatment on his back, Nadal’s doctor said last week.

“I am not practicing yet, but I am happy with how the operation went and I have no problems,” Nadal added. “It was not an easy year, especially in the second half it was hard, but that’s part of my life, that’s part of my career, and I accept that.”

Despite winning his ninth French Open title back in May, a series of injuries cost Nadal much of the second half of 2014. First it was his wrist which kept him out after Wimbledon before back problems would force him to miss a number of other tournaments.

He had his appendix removed in early November which kept him out of the ATP World Tour Finals.

“What happened with my wrist and then appendix, it was problem and then problems again,” said Nadal. “I am doing all the right things but I have worked my body pretty hard for a lot of years so these kind of things can happen. But I am confident I will have the chance to be back and be competitive with all the things I want to compete in.”

The Spaniard is set to return to Abu Dhabi, the exhibition that runs from January 1-3. He has won the tournament twice (2009 and 2011), and will join the likes of Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils when the calendar turns to 2015.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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