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Rafael Nadal plans to be ready for Australian Open

By Harry Floyd

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 02: Rafael Nadal announces that he is pulling out of the tournament due to injury during day four of the 2019 Brisbane International at Pat Rafter Arena on January 02, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 02: Rafael Nadal announces that he is pulling out of the tournament due to injury during day four of the 2019 Brisbane International at Pat Rafter Arena on January 02, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) /
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Former world number one Rafael Nadal expects to be healthy and ready for the Australian Open. But, do we believe him?

Talking to the press after his withdrawal from the 2019 Brisbane International, former world number one Rafael Nadal tells the media that he plans to be 100 percent for the Australian Open. Based on his previous few months on the ATP Tour, however, we have to reserve judgement and wait and see when it comes to Nadal.

A fan favorite and former champion at Melbourne Park, Nadal would delight in being ready to go for the upcoming Grand Slam. The sport is better when he is healthy.

Right now though, Nadal continues to address ongoing injuries that have gotten the best of him for much of the last year. At Brisbane this past week, his doctors advised Rafa to withdraw in order to avoid worsening his injury. He underwent an MRI last week.

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Rafael Nadal plans to win the Australian Open.

Nadal remains confident that he is recovering. Speaking with the media, the world number two says that he just needs a few days before he is 100 percent. He is also planning to WIN the Australian Open.

The optimist in us wants to see Nadal succeed at Melbourne Park. While the likes of current world number one Novak Djokovic and Swiss legend Roger Federer have dominated the Grand Slam for the majority of their careers, Nadal is plenty capable of winning the Australian Open. Even if he is not quite 100 percent, a healthy-enough Nadal can make a deep run. Odds are, his withdrawal from the Brisbane International is more of a precaution than not.

Similar to Nadal, another former world number one in Andy Murray has been dealing with injuries as of late. Murray underwent surgery on his hip in the offseason and has been battling to make a return to the ATP Tour for the pasty year or two. Now, he wins one match and loses one at Brisbane. All eyes are on players like Murray and Nadal as we near the Australian Open.

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Check back for updates on everyone like Nadal and Murray as we approach the upcoming Australian Open. As it stands, Federer is the two-time defending champion and has displayed brilliance at Melbourne Park over the years. A healthy Nadal, however, would make the field in men’s singles all the more competitive.

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