Rafael Nadal backed over Novak Djokovic comment as Spaniard told how comeback will go

Juan Carlos Ferrero believes that Rafael Nadal did the right thing by confessing that he wouldn’t be able to beat Novak Djokovic in the Grand Slam race. The 37-year-old recently announced that he would be able to make a return to competitive tennis but could no longer match his old rival. And the coach of Carlos Alcaraz thinks that Nadal’s comment was a wise one.

Earlier this week, Nadal confirmed that he would be making a comeback after an injury forced him to spend the season on the sidelines. The Spaniard is expected to announce concrete plans for his first tournament soon but he still isn’t certain about what his level will be when he gets back on the circuit.

“I know it will be difficult to return to a very high level of tennis, but if I didn’t have the desire to be competitive again I wouldn’t have done the work I’ve done these months,” he said during a Tennis Clinic appearance, per Marca. However, Nadal was certain about one thing as he added: “I'm not going to win more Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic, but I'm going to have the opportunity to enjoy myself again.”

Juan Carlos Ferrero - the former world No 1 and current coach of Alcaraz - has now responded to Nadal’s comments and said it was logical for the 37-year-old to concede to Djokovic. “He will surely return wanting to compete because he has a competitive animal inside him,” the 2003 French Open winner told Marca.

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“I see it as logical that he does not see himself competing with Djokovic or against the best right now because he has been out of competition for a long time and it is always difficult to get started.” Ferrero still believes that Nadal can get back to his best though, referencing his countryman’s run to the 2022 Australian Open title.

It came after Nadal ended his 2021 season in August due to his ongoing foot injury. He returned in Melbourne at the start of 2022, winning the ATP 250 event before lifting a then-record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open - just weeks after he doubted whether he’d be able to return. And Ferrero can see the 37-year-old pulling off a similar miracle next season.

The fellow Spaniard explained: “But once he is on the track, his mentality of competing at his best will not change. In the Australian Open that he won against Medvedev, it was thought that he had less chances and he won both tournaments.