Smiles and jokes: it’s a new Rafa Nadal

Smiles and jokes: è a new Rafa Nadal

It's the most anticipated return of this early year: Rafael Nadal in Brisbane returns to the court after a long time. After training with Rune on Thursday, the Manacor tennis player is looking forward to making his debut in Australia and putting his physical troubles behind him, with the ambition to return competitive quickly in what will be his last year as a professional, barring any surprises.

"I have been doing this most of my life: è clearly I have missed the feeling of competing, the entrance to a stadium full of fans and the trips to the best tournaments in the world. I want to feel ready to compete and enjoy every challenge", he said at the press conference.

Nadal è showed himself very calm and smiling, aware that even thinking about winning now è prohibitive: "For me è impossible to think about winning a tournament today. I do not expect much from myself competitively: è a year I have not played, è a long time. I am aware that in the beginning it will be a difficult process: right now, the only thing I can aspire to è to give my best on the court and feel competitive".

"I have been training with intensity" for me already; being here " a victory. I feel much better now than I expected a month ago, è impossible for me to complain: I just want to enjoy the return to the field".