The excitement is up in the air as Rafael Nadal is finally back to grace the courts, starting with the Brisbane International. Even after the tennis star seems to be in great form, considering his amazing win over Dominic Thiem, the fans still are upset to know about his retirement, which could come up unexpectedly.

While the Spaniard is currently kicking the action, he surely needs fans’ support. To restore their faith and excitement, Rafa recently injected a booster shot of enthusiasm with his confident statement.

Rafael Nadal makes bold statement post-return

In a recent video statement, tennis legend Rafael Nadal opened up about his return to the court after a one-year-long break due to injuries. The 22-time Grand Slam champion accepted the challenges that lie ahead of him hopping into the competitive game, after a year of not lifting the racket. He expressed, “All the doubts that are normal after one year without playing a professional match.

However, along with acknowledging the challenging situation, the Spaniard assured fans of his potential as he stated, “But I still have this fire inside to be competitive.” As Nadal made this bold statement about being able to face the competition, his form in the recent match against Thiem completely justified it.

ALSO READ: French WTA Star Gives Tough Fight to Rafael Nadal Fan Girl Iga Swiatek With a Special Effort to Watch His Comeback

Top Stories

Carlos Alcaraz Announces Shocking Separation From Longtime Coach After Historic Run

Former World No. 37 Ends Career With Rare Admission About Misbehaving on Tour

Elena Rybakina Caught in Fresh Citizenship Dispute After Russian Claim

Tennis Rumor: Emma Raducanu Reportedly Set to Leave Nike to Follow in Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic’s Footsteps

Novak Djokovic Drops a Late Twist Ahead of the Australian Open 2026

The Spaniard, despite being near his retirement, expressed his desire to be highly competitive. “Let’s see, I mean I’m trying my best every day to put myself in a competitive position,” he added. This insight into Nadal’s mindset not only gave an update about his physical status but also gave out his strong will to be a part of the competition.

Rafa’s comeback journey through challenges

While every fan in the tennis world is aware of the break that Rafa took before making a comeback, the challenges that he faced during the period were still unheard of. Along with sharing his desire to be competitive, Rafa also took a moment to narrate the story behind him stepping back to the courts. “After all the surgery, it’s probably had been four months without touching a racket. I was not able to play tennis. I was not able to enjoy a lot because I went through a lot of pain for a long time,” said Rafa. 

As the tennis star shares a glimpse of his struggles during the recovery period, he ends the narration on a positive note. He said, “I feel much better today than what I expected one month ago and that for me already that’s super positive.” While the tennis star is all positive for now, it is time to enjoy his rallies and not be upset about the retirement.

Watch This Story: Distressing Serena Williams Reality Leaves Gaping Void That’s Nearly Impossible to Fill for Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek