Rafael Nadal started his comeback with a doubles loss on the Brisbane Worldwide however he has not closed the door on taking part in singles past this season.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was beaming on the finish of his first match in practically a yr however he and Marc Lopez misplaced 6-4 6-4 to Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.
Nadal had an operation on his left hip in June and has indicated this season will very doubtless be his final, however the need to play on stays robust.
“If I’m taking part in properly – one thing that may occur – if I’m freed from accidents – one thing that historical past says could be very troublesome – and if I’m not having an excessive amount of ache each day, if all of the issues collectively occur, why not?” Nadal, 37, advised BBC Sport.
“I do not wish to say 100% that is going to be my final yr, as a result of I hold loving tennis and hold having fun with what I’m doing.”
His doubles accomplice in Brisbane, Lopez, is a part of Nadal’s teaching workforce and barely performs lately, however it was helpful observe earlier than the Spaniard’s singles match with 2020 US Open champion and qualifier Dominic Thiem on Tuesday.
“Competing is totally different than practising, however by way of practising with the fellows right here, I’m fairly blissful as a result of I really feel aggressive in opposition to the gamers that I performed in observe,” mentioned Nadal, who had not performed since January’s Australian Open.
“After all I haven’t got the expectations that I used to have previously.”
