Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has had an eventful season to date. After skipping last year’s American swing because of his foot injury, he made a comeback and outclassed the in-form Daniil Medvedev in the finals of the Australian Open. Following that, he claimed the Grand Slam of clay despite the recurrence of the same injury in France.

Currently, Nadal is dealing with an abdominal injury that he suffered at Wimbledon. However, keeping in mind his history, fans are optimistic about his comeback. Further, as per John McEnroe, his incredible fitness and strength is enough to get him past everything.

Nadal’s most important asset

The seven-time Grand Slam champion while speaking in a podcast addressed the Spaniard’s physical strength. He pointed out how his build is enough to intimidate the opponent and pull him through his matches. The tennis veteran compared Nadal’s on-court presence to himself and said, “When I went on the court I was so amped up because it’s not like I have Rafael Nadal’s biceps.”

Thereafter, McEnroe added, “I had to bring like energy and like a will that the player had to feel that oozing off my body. That energy would intimidate them.” 

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The former World no.1 is famous for his shot making and volley skills. However, along with that, he still stands out as a person who, like Kyrgios at present, showcased his volatile attitude during matches. McEnroe often got tangled in arguments with other players and the chair umpires.

When will Rafael Nadal return?

The 14-time French Open champion is still recovering from the gruesome injury he incurred during the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships. The injury not only destroyed the golden opportunity of securing a Calender Grand Slam but also clouded his chances of winning the US Open this season.

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Nadal‘s recovery time is also keeping him off tournaments, which would have helped him oil his hard court skills. Recently, he withdrew from the ATP 1000 event at Montreal owing to the injury. Thus, the legendary Spaniard missed the chance to claim his fifth Canadian Open title and a warm-up even before the last Grand Slam.