The year’s first Grand Slam is scheduled to get underway in Melbourne on January 16. Despite being the defending champion, fans and pundits alike are unsure of Nadal’s chances at the Major considering his injury struggles in the second half of the 2022 season and his form since recovering.
The Spaniard has endured back-to-back losses at the start of 2023, with defeats to Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur at the inaugural United Cup — the first time he began a season with two defeats.
In light of all that, former doubles World No. 1 Paul McNamee has expressed doubts over the World No. 2’s chances at the Asia-Pacific Grand Slam.
The 68-year-old stated that Nadal’s biggest strength during his career has been his physical prowess, which, he said, has waned now.
Rafael Nadal’s doctor expresses optimism despite Spaniard’s dismal form
On the contrary, Rafael Nadal’s personal doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro has given the star’s fans reason to relax.
The Spaniard has lost six of his last seven matches on the tour, with his solitary win coming in a dead rubber against third-ranked Casper Ruud in the group stage of the ATP Finals in Turin.
Cotorro, however, believes that the former World No. 1 is doing well and is gradually improving with every match.
Nadal himself has vowed to give his all when his 2023 Australian Open campaign gets underway. Despite his two defeats at the start of the year, he believes that he played “a good level of tennis” and that the time spent on the court will do him good.
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