Rafael Nadal is optimistic he can return to full fitness ahead of the Australian Open.
The 28-year-old former world No.1 was scratched from last week’s season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London after recovering from an appendicitis operation, but has also been limited by recent knee issues.
“It will be 10 or 12 days before I can practise again, so [I] will have all of December to try to put my body and my tennis at the right level to be competitive in January. I am going to work for it, that is my goal,” Nadal said from a promotional event.
“As ever after a period when things haven’t gone well, you’re a bit more eager to (prepare) well, although there is uncertainty about how things will go.”
Nadal won’t feature heavily on the Australian summer warmup schedule, but aims to kick off 2015 with appearances in Abu Dhabi and Doha before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
“I hope to use December to prepare well. I’ll have a month before things start in Australia, I hope and believe that’s enough to get me to my best level.”
Nadal fell to Stan Wawrinka in this year’s Australian Open final before claiming the title at Roland Garros.
Australian Sam Stosur is set for a bounce back year in 2015 after taking a five-week break from tennis to beat a bout of plantar fasciitis- an incredibly painful tissue injury between the heel and mid-foot, known to restrict athletes over long stretches.
The 2011 US Open Grand Slam winner ended her season early to give the foot some much need rest and recovery and is now gearing up for another Grand Slam on home soil.
“I pretty much didn’t do anything physical and limited my walking for five weeks,” she said. “I wasn’t too convinced it was all going to happen so quickly but so far so good.”
Stosur’s current practice schedule is limited to clay court activity to ease the burden on her on her troublesome foot.
“This is the longest time I’ve had in Australia for a very long time so it’s nice to actually feel like you have a bit of a break,” she said.
“And it gives you a good chance to really try and practice some things.”
Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images.
