Rafael Nadal: Laura Robson hints Spaniard could return in February - 'Clearly the injury isn't that bad'

ByAndrew Wright

Published 14/01/2024 at 17:34 GMT

Laura Robson has given tennis fans cause for optimism in regard to the fitness of Rafael Nadal, hinting that the Spaniard could return to action in February at the Qatar Open in Doha. Nadal was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open after picking up an injury at the Brisbane International but later confirmed it was different to the issue that kept him sidelined for most of 2023.

Laura Robson has teased the possibility that Rafael Nadal could return quicker than expected after the Spaniard withdrew from the 2024 Australian Open through injury.

The 37-year-old made his long-awaited comeback to singles action at the Brisbane International but suffered a micro tear on a muscle in his hip during his third-round loss to Jordan Thompson.

That forced Nadal out of the year’s opening Grand Slam and left many wondering how long this latest setback would keep him sidelined.

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Initially, Eurosport experts Tim Henman and Mats Wilander urged caution and suggested the most prudent course of action for Nadal would be to sit out and ensure he is fully fit to return for the clay-court season.

“I think he’s always been very smart, he’s not going to rush it, there’s no point trying to come back too quickly if he’s not feeling 100%,” Henman said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he says, ‘I’m going to wait until the clay’. It’s the surface he feels the most comfortable on, not just past results but it is a little bit softer on the body so my look into the crystal ball is that he’ll come back on clay.”

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In response, however, Robson said the word from inside the Spaniard’s camp is that the timeline for a return could see him back for the Qatar Open, which gets under way on February 19.

“Guys, I’ve got news. Not necessarily gossip but good news if you are a Rafa fan,” Robson said.

“Last I heard the plan is for him to restart in Doha [at the end of February], just a few weeks after the AO. So clearly the injury isn’t that bad, he’s going to manage it.

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“Whether he plays there, we’ll see, but even the fact he’s hopeful of playing there that quickly after withdrawing from the Aussie Open is really great news.

“I’d agree with Mats and Tim. The fact there are only a handful of hard-court tournaments before he could start in Madrid or Rome [on clay]... it’s interesting to see what he’s going to do but he is already thinking about coming back.”

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