Rafael Nadal will play his first game for the year on Thursday. The 32-year-old Spaniard will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Thanasi Kokkinakis in a second round of the tournament in Brisbane where he is placed under number 1.
Rafa played a game in Abu Dhabi a few days ago, losing to Kevin Anderson. He then dropped out of the second meeting there and on Sunday arrived in Australia with a flight from Dubai. Yesterday, he was already training on the Brisbane courts, not showing that he had problems with the time difference, but demonstrated a great mood for the joy of the local fans. Nadal plans to approach this season more cautiously to try to avoid the injuries that have been pursuing him throughout his career. `After such a long period in which I did not compete, and the operation was a bit over, I was going to go step by step I did not play the second game in Abu Dhabi because I did not want to take a step back after what I did lastyear, I do not want to make the mistake of playing when I`m not 100%!`, said the champion of 17 Grand Slam titles.
'I do not want to get it last season, because when it happens in recent years, like the beginning of the past and the end, it kills you mentally, if you can not go tocourt every day and train without problems, it`s hard to keep doing it!', he added.
Knee injury, then ankle surgery, ended late last season for Rafa. He will try to play as many games as possible before the Australian Open, reaching the final by rugby prognosis at Brisbane, means four matches. The first Grand Slam tournament is not among the Spaniard`s favorites. He played some of the most memorable matches in his career in Melbourne, but he has only one title (2009) and three lost finals. Additionally, he has twice ended in giving up in recent years. `I had a short but good training, and I really believe I have more tennis to play in my career, and I really feel my body is no worse every year!`, Nadal said. `Sometimes it`s like last year in Australia. I had knee problems at US Open, but this is not a novelty. At the same time, I had fantastic moments in my career and it would not be right to talk about just the injuries. I have achieved more than I dreamed. The only goal is to keep doing the things that make me happy. `
`Last year was heavy in terms of injuries, I only played in nine tournaments and in two of them I gave up, and on the other hand I won five of them, I was on a very high level every time I was on the court, ` said the Spaniard. Asked if he plans to take part in fewer tournaments this year, he replies, `I will play when I feel ready, I know what works for me and what not, and if you play less this does not guarantee thatyou will not have problems, it`s not about how many tournaments you play, but how many matches. `
