Friday February 1, 2013
Nadal admits injured knee still a source of some pain
Hard at work: Rafael Nadal (right) participates in a training session as his coach and uncle Toni Nadal watches him in Mallorca last week. MADRID: Rafael Nadal is looking forward to returning to action in the first clay-court tournament of the year in Chile next week, but the Spaniard admits that his injured knee is still a source of some pain.
After missing seven months with the injury and then being forced to sit out the recent Australian Open due to a stomach virus, Nadal will take part in the ATP event in Vina del Mar as a wildcard.
The 26-year-old told reporters after a training session in his native Mallorca that he is excited at the prospect of returning to top-level tennis, but there are nagging doubts as to how his knee will respond.
“I’m looking forward to competing again and taking part in a top-level tournament,” he said.
“I hope the knee responds well and that it tolerates the demands of professional competition.
“There are still days when it bothers me but it is evident that I will need time before the knee is used to top-level competition again.”
Nadal won the last of his 11 Grand Slam titles to date at last year’s French Open but has not played a competitive match since losing to Czech outsider Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon last June.
He will enter the Vina del Mar tournament at the second-round stage, with his first match scheduled for next Wednesday on Feb 6.
“I’m looking forward to returning after seven months out, to training and coming up against the other players in Chile,” he added.
Apart from fifth-ranked Nadal, the leading player in the Vina del Mar draw will be Argentina’s world No.12 Juan Monaco, who will be defending his title. — AFP
- Indonesian Rexy's advise to M'sian team: Stick together as a family
- Yongbo: Beat us if you can, not good for China to win all the time
- Thai Ratchanok wins many hearts with her gritty display
- Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four
- MSSM meet: 15 records in five days augur well for M’sian athletics
- Basketball: Warriors have no problem taming Dragons in Jakarta
- Caterham tried to be too clever, says Fernandes
- Adidas and Puma take rivalry to European football final
- National hockey juniors fare badly in tourney
- MHC: No way we will scrap age-group tournaments
- Donald bemoans 'terrible' display as he exits PGA
- Rudisha resists quick buck for gold rush in Rio
- Racing legend Prost rejects calls for F1 overhaul
- Selangor Hockey Association to hold two-day trials
- Woman Natasha racer bids for first MSS win with her father
- Silver Arrows dominate, but Rosberg prefers to stay humble
- Ben excited to make comeback after a long injury lay-off
- Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four
- Australian Marques leads at 111th Malaysian Amateur Open (MAO)
- Youngster Zaqhwan surprises himself with a new lap record
RSS
