World primary Novak Djokovic believes Rafael Nadal will likely be aggressive at subsequent month’s Australian Open, regardless of his damage absence.
The Spaniard, 37, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, is ready to make his comeback in Brisbane this weekend forward of the primary tennis main of the yr.
His final match was a second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald on the Australian Open in January.
The 2024 version of that match begins on 14 January in Melbourne.
“I all the time count on him [Nadal] to play at his greatest, to be trustworthy,” stated Djokovic, 36, who received three Grand Slams in 2023 to succeed in a document 24 for his profession and overtake Nadal.
“Many occasions they’ve signed him out, they’ve carried out that with me as properly. However we have proved them incorrect.
“He isn’t a type of a participant that may come again to the tour simply to play – to illustrate – on a medium degree, play just a few matches.
“He needs to win titles, he needs to be the most effective, that is why he’s who he’s: a legend of our sport. I am positive that his coaching and preparation is completed with an intention to win a Grand Slam.”
Nadal has stated that 2024 is prone to be his remaining season on tour, after needing surgical procedure on a hip damage and slipping all the way down to 670th on the planet rankings.
He received the Australian Open in 2009 and 2022 and is a document 14-time champion on the French Open.
World quantity two Carlos Alcaraz, who performed Djokovic in an exhibition match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, additionally believes his compatriot is prepared for motion.
“I noticed some movies of him practising, he is 100%,” stated 20-year-old Alcaraz.
“I hear from different gamers that they practised with Rafa in these previous weeks and so they stated that he will return to his good degree. His prime degree.
“I feel he is prepared for excellent issues this yr as properly.”