Rafa Nadal spoke publicly for the first time since arriving in Brisbane. The Mallorcan star, who is set to participate in the 31st edition of the tournament opening on Sunday, joined a promotional event at Queen Street Mall. There, he signed autographs and answered questions about returning to competitive tennis before a crowd of devoted fans.
“I feel better than I expected a month ago. I can’t complain. It will be tough at first, especially since I haven’t stepped on a tennis court for a full year. I trained with strong intensity last month. I’m not saying anything is impossible, but just being here already feels like a victory,” he shared with the city’s leaders.
“I’m not a player who tries to forecast short term results or even more so mid and long term, because I don’t see myself competing for a very long period. I want to give myself the chance to be more competitive as the season unfolds,” he explained, outlining his plan for the year ahead.
Tennis royalty had a presence on Queen Street Mall, drawing cheers from a grateful Brisbane crowd.
“Thank you, Rafael Nadal. A lot of happy fans were out in Brisbane today,” noted the Brisbane International’s official account, sharing photos from the event.
“I have to face this process with acceptance of the difficulties, knowing that not everything will be perfect from the start. I must maintain the right attitude and the work ethic every day. When you can’t compete, you miss the competition, the fans, playing in the best arenas, stepping onto a full court. Perhaps the thing I miss most is that feeling of being ready to compete, to have fun, and to experiment,” Nadal reflected in another moment of dialogue.
He closed by expressing gratitude for the support received over the many months away from competition: “When things aren’t going well, the public’s support helps us move forward. I feel very lucky. The support has been vast and Australia has always held a special place in my heart. I’ve had unforgettable moments here and I’m hopeful for another year filled with them.”