By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, December 27, 2018
"I am confident I'm going to arrive for Melbourne with the right situation," Rafael Nadal told the media in Abu Dhabi.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Rafael Nadal isn't one for elaborate New Year's resolutions.
Gearing up for his Abu Dhabi return tomorrow, Nadal is entering 2019 focusing on competing and completing.
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The second-ranked Nadal, who has not played a match since retiring from the US Open semifinals in September, is confident he will be 100 percent fit for the Australian Open, which starts on January 14th.
"I started two weeks ago and of course (I'm) doing things step-by-step and I think I have time to be ready for Melbourne 100 percent," Nadal told Sport 360. "It's gonna be good to have some matches before. But I am confident I'm going to arrive for Melbourne with the right situation."
It's been three months since the relentless Spaniard fought off Dominic Thiem, 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5) in an epic US Open quarterfinal that was one of the most pulsating matches of the year.
Then came his US Open semifinal retirement due to a right knee injury that sidelined him for the Asian swing.
The 32-year-old Nadal tried to return in Paris, but pulled out of the Paris Masters and season-ending Nitto ATP Finals with an abdominal injury.
After undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason, Nadal said he's prepared for his return facing pain with positivity.
"I try hard, I work hard to try to be ready for what's coming," Nadal said. "The second part of the year, last year, has been tough in terms of injuries. But that happens. That's part of my tennis career, too. I try to work the right way and when I'm back I know that things aren't easy.
"I know you always have tough feelings and pains in the body that normally you don't have. But just I have experience in all this. I just try to be ready for the every day practices and in the right matches. I don't have to ask myself big things in the beginning, just trying to be positive with every improvement and that way, normally, you get the right point."
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will face the winner of the Dominic Thiem vs. Karen Khachanov in his first Mubadala World Tennis Championship match tomorrow.
Reigning Roland Garros champion Nadal has a first-round bye like Djokovic and will take on Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson tomorrow.
Anderson defeated Australian Open semifinalist Hyeon Chung, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1, today.
The semifinal winners advance to the Abu Dhabi final on Saturday.
"A new season of course you have to take care of the body at the very beginning," Nadal said. "Coming from this injury, I have to go step-by-step. But here I am. And I'm happy to be here, happy to be ready for a new season and that's what I'm looking for."