Rafael Nadal: chances of playing the 2018 Australian Open
By Harry Floyd
Rafael Nadal is in Australia. The world No. 1 is practicing leading up to the Australian Open and trying to decide if he is healthy enough to compete.
Rafael Nadal is two practice sessions into his time at Melbourne Park.
The world No. 1 is a former champion at the Australian Open and all eyes are on him right now. With the recent withdrawals of former world No. 1 Andy Murray and American superstar Serena Williams, fans and players alike are awaiting Nadal’s decision to participate in the Grand Slam.
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Carlos Moya has spoken to the press following Nadal’s recent training sessions at Melbourne Park. Team Nadal appears confident that, barring any unexpected setbacks, the world No. 1 will be ready for play at the Australian Open.
The biggest concern for Rafael Nadal is the status of his ongoing knee injury.
"“…we are optimists. We think it will be fine to play the tournament, if nothing gets twisted or changed.” –Carlos Moya to the press"
As of right now, all roads lead to Nadal participating in the Australian Open.
He is the 2017 runner-up at the Grand Slam event and, if healthy, can easily have a huge impact on the tournament. Roger Federer is the favorite going into the major tournament as he is the defending champion. The Swiss great is also coming off of a 2018 Hopman Cup win with team Switzerland. He will look to carry his newfound momentum right into play at Melbourne Park.
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Moya and team Nadal will continue to monitor the Spanish superstar’s progress. The Grand Slam is still a week away and anything can happen between now and then. While they are optimistic of Nadal’s chances right now, stay tuned to see if things change in the coming days.
Rafael Nadal had to withdraw from the ATP Finals in London after his opening match loss. His lingering knee injury has been a problem in recent years. Despite the injury though, the Spanish tennis star managed to earn two Grand Slam titles on the 2017 ATP World Tour. If he is healthy enough to compete at the top level, Nadal is undoubtedly one of the favorites in any tournament he plays in. Check back to follow Nadal’s progress at Melbourne Park.