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‘He’ll Get Angry’- Rafael Nadal’s Friend and Former ATP Star Takes a Cautious Stance as the Spanish Legend Nears His Comeback

Published 12/17/2023, 3:59 AM EST

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via Reuters

After Rafael Nadal recently confirmed his comeback in the upcoming season, fans, besides carrying immense excitement, are also filled with a pack of questions. The Spaniard who recently recovered from a severe hip injury, is currently on a training schedule in Kuwait as he prepares for a season filled with high hopes of the fans. Will he be able to meet all the expectations, especially this one that his friend recently revealed?

Carrying a large number of questions in mind, the media took their chance as they recently spotted one of Rafa’s friends and former ATP star Feliciano López at an event. Being exposed to an array of questions, the 42-year-old’s response didn’t just include praises for Nadal but also gave out hints that can be used to decode Rafa’s upcoming season plans.

Feliciano Lopez responds to the questions on behalf of Rafael Nadal

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In a recent interview, former tennis star Feliciano López shared his excitement over Rafael Nadal’s comeback in the upcoming 2024 season. Feli, who has been a good friend to the Spaniard, expressed his desire to see Rafa lift the French Open trophy again, keeping in view that it could be the legendary player’s last season as a professional. “May Nadal win Roland Garros. It would be incredible and the best culmination of his career. It’s fantastic for world sport that a tennis player as iconic as him is back,” he said.

Along with expressing his desire to see Rafa win, the 42-year-old was also wise enough to acknowledge the uncertainties surrounding Nadal’s return for now. Besides Roland Garros, Lopez also threw an invitation to grace the tournament in Madrid as he mentioned, “I would like him to come to Madrid, as tournament director.” However, he playfully added, “I’m not one to anticipate events; I know that if he hears me say all this, he’ll get angry,” ending his statement with a laugh.

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With Nadal’s confirmed return at the Brisbane International after nearly keeping himself on the sidelines, the tennis world has been involved in discussions regarding the Spaniard’s performance. However, it wasn’t just Lopez who came forward to welcome Rafa after such a long break.

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Roger Federer’s former coach’s expectations from Rafa’s comeback

As Feliciano Lopez answered about his thoughts on Rafael Nadal’s comeback, the media has been on a role of asking similar questions to other tennis legends as well. Recently, tennis legend Roger Federer‘s coach Ivan Ljubičić was also exposed to questions regarding Rafa’s return.

Expressing his high expectations from Rafa’s return backed by the update from the French training partner, Ljubičić mentioned, “Nadal? Fils wrote to me that he is playing at a very high level. I still expect great things from Rafa.”

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As the tennis star revealed information that came from Nadal’s current training session in Kuwait, fans got the latest update on their favorite tennis star’s current form. With more and more verdicts gracing the Spaniard’s comeback, the expectation of fans keeps on hailing high.

Watch This Story: Roger Federer Pulling Off ‘GOAT Sh*t’ With Absolute Ease Against a Helpless Nick Kyrgios Leaves Tennis Fans in Splits

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Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

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One take at a time

Born into a family that practically breathes tennis, I spent my early childhood days huddled together with my loved ones, watching the electrifying rallies of the legendary Rafael Nadal. Such a unique experience forged a lifelong love for the sport in me. Before joining EssentiallySports, I honed my skills while working for a regional website, covering a variety of sports.
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Edited by:

Shudh.mukherjee