Rafael Nadal Is Happy With Knee Progress

Written by: on 8th February 2013
Rafael Nadal press conference
Rafael Nadal Is Happy With Knee Progress

epa03565780 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal gives a press conference on occcasion of a training session in Vina del Mar, Chile, 02 February 2013. Nadal is in this country to take part at the ATP Vinal del Mar, running between 04 and 10 February 2013, after seven months out of competition due to a knee injury. EPA/HUMBERTO GOMEZ  |

Rafael Nadal could not be happier with his comeback to tennis after more than seven months away with a knee injury. The Spaniard who now stands fifth in the world knows he will have a battle to rise again in the rankings but is confident that with time and matches he can again achieve his world-beating form.

“I feel relieved and joyful, that’s certain,” the former No. 1 told France’s L’Equipe in Vina del Mar on the Chilean Pacific coast where he is playing an ATP event for the first times since a Wimbledon loss last June 28. “The theme of the moment is patience.

“I need to take it step by step and accept that I’m not going to be at my maximum level right away. I haven’t played in seven months. If I’m not humble, it’s not going to work. I’m not afraid because I know in what state my knee is in.”

Nadal, who is by now well acquainted with doctors’ surgeries and waiting rooms, said that he is confident that his dodgy left knee is coming back to full strength. “For three weeks, all the tests I have undergone have shown perfect results.

“The truth is that my left knee is in fantastic shape compared with the other one (laughs). I know now that if I run, I won’t risk torn tendons. That’s “importantissime”. The doctors have promised me that. So, it’s alright, no anxiety. Even if the tendon still gives me pain.”

Nadal is working slowly on returning to his lethal best by the time of the French Open in three months as he bids for an unprecedented eighth title at the Grand Slam that he has dominated. “Doctors tell me the (knee) pain should be gone by the end of February. I will regain my normal mobility on court. I just need to give my patellar tendon time to get used to intense efforts.

Nadal described his particular pain to the esteemed French sports daily, “I could feel it in the morning while getting up and in the afternoon while I’m eating or while hitting a backhand. My first two days in Chili were difficult: I was feeling a lot of pain and I didn’t have one good training session.

“Once I had pain nine days out of 10, then eight out of 10 and it’s getting less and less….But, pain or not, the overwhelming feeling is the joy of being here, to train with the pros, to have a match, to play, to feel the competition.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.