The tennis world was filled with enthusiasm when one of the greatest players of all time, Rafael Nadal announced his comeback to the sport. After being out of the sport for almost a year, the Spanish maestro announced that he would be making his return to the sport and would be looking to end his career on a high. His first task will be conquering the hard courts of the Australian Open. However, his journey to the top won’t be easy at all.

Coming unseeded into the tournament, he could face some tough challenges from some of the best names in the tennis world. While Novak Djokovic will be entering the tournament as the defending champion, he could also pose some serious threats to him. That being said, will the Spaniard’s run at the Australian Open be short-lived?

How does Nadal face a challenge from Novak Djokovic and co at the Australian Open?

Rafael Nadal’s return to the Australian Open as an unseeded player sets the stage for an epic comeback of one of the legends of the game. However, coming into the tournament as an unseeded player, he could face a lot of challenges. Also, his comeback could be short-lived as he might face some tough competition right from the start of the tournament.

Right from the start, he could face tough challenges like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, or Jannik Sinner in the initial rounds. This could eventually put his chances of making it through to the next round in deep trouble. This scenario drastically reduces Nadal’s margin for error.  A victorious run throughout the end, which could be very tough would make his chance of landing title glory. This comeback seems poised on a tightrope, teetering on the brink of triumph or swift elimination.

Thus, the comeback that Rafael Nadal has been longing for could come up with some challenges. While the Spanish legend prepares himself for the upcoming Australian Open, the likes of defending champion Novak Djokovic could pose some great threats to the 2022 Australian Open champion.

How far will Rafael Nadal actually be able to make it?

The looming prospect of a Nadal-Djokovic showdown in the early stages of the Australian Open could be on the cards. If that is the case, Novak Djokovic will have an upper hand coming into the match. This will be because of his record while playing in Australia. Moreover, the head-to-head lead that he has against Nadal could be a decisive factor.

Also read: ‘Didn’t Pretend Like Some People’- After Rafael Nadal’s ‘Frustrated’ Jibe, Novak Djokovic Seemingly Rebuffs Rival With a Passionate Boast

On the other hand, Nadal, facing youngsters like Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz could also come to reality in the earlier stages of the tournament. This will bring more fun to the drama. However, predicting a winner in that case could be a bit difficult considering the past that Rafael Nadal has had in the game.

Thus, Rafael Nadal’s journey in the Australian Open will be completely dependent on the way that he plays in the Open. Coming after a year due to the injury, not much would be expected from him but given the stature that he holds, he could be a worthy candidate for the title glory. However, the road to the final will not be easy at all.

What are your views on this? How far do you think could Rafael Nadal make it at the upcoming Australian Open? Do let us know in the comments below!

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