Nadal Trains In Kuwait Ahead Of Comeback

Corinne Dubreuil

Rafael Nadal’s return to the ATP Tour is drawing ever nearer, and the road toward his comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International presented by Evie, which takes place from 31 December to 7 January, included a stop in Kuwait.

Nadal travelled to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Kuwait, which opened in 2020 at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex. There, he shared a training session with Arthur Fils, the 19-year-old Frenchman who recently reached the title match at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM.

“It’s great to be here in Kuwait to train for a few days. Everyone has been so welcoming. Thank you for everything,” wrote the Spaniard on his official social media accounts.

The Mallorcan travelled to Kuwait in search of temperatures and conditions similar to those he will find in a few weeks in the Australian summer.

Nadal, surrounded by his team, shared an image on social media of one of his habitual group activities, a game of ludo with Carlos Moya, Marc Lopez and his physio Rafael Maymo.

The Spaniard, who recently posted a message of cautious excitement about his return, is preparing to compete for the first time since he took to the court on 18 January this year, in the second round of the Australian Open against Mackenzie McDonald.

“I still think what I said in the last press conference, that I do not deserve to end my sports career in a press room.” he said. “I would like to finish in a different way, and I have fought and kept the illusion for that to happen, with doubts, with bad moments, very bad or better moments.”