Rafael Nadal 'will be ready', says David Ferrer as he gives strong hint about what's to come for tennis great
10/06/2024 02:00 AM
Rafael Nadal remains on course to return to action in the coming weeks with Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer confirming he has “no doubts” that the tennis great will play a big role in their Final 8 quarter-final match.
Nadal has not played any tennis since the Olympics at the end of July as he lost in the second round of the singles against Novak Djokovic while he and Carlos Alcaraz were defeated in the last eight of the doubles.
He was initially set to make his comeback at the Laver Cup in September, but withdrew at the last minute as he revealed his body would not stand up to the rigours of competitive tennis over three days.
Despite the 22-time Grand Slam winner’s physical problems, he has been included in Spain’s Davis Cup squad for the Final 8 clash against the Netherlands at the end of November and Ferrer is confident he will be ready.
“I know Rafa is an honest person and that if he steps on the court, he will give his 100%,” he said on the Sala de Jugadores YouTube Channel.
“I’m aware of his competitive capabilities; the issue he is facing is that physically he can’t sustain the level for long periods, but in a single match, he can be unbeatable.
“You can never count out a player like him. The fact that he is so thrilled to be with the team, as he was the one who called me before the qualifying phase, makes me see that it’s perfect to have him with us.”
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And don’t expect Nadal to just be a cheerleader from the sidelines as Ferrer has already confirmed the former world No 1 has been pencilled in to play singles against the Netherlands.
“I have no doubts. If he is fit and I see him training properly, he will play singles,” he said. “When the draw was announced, I sent him a message and told him to prepare to play against Botic van de Zandschulp. His response was clear: ‘I’ll be ready’.”
Nadal’s next event is set to be the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia with the exhibition event taking place from October 16, 17 and 19 in Riyadh.
His calendar is empty after that, but Ferrer is hopeful he will play at least one competitive tournament before the Davis Cup Finals.
“This month, he will compete in the Six Kings Slam, and I would like him to participate in another event before joining the team. I will discuss this with him in the coming weeks,” he added.
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