Novak Djokovic warned Wednesday he expects nice rival Rafael Nadal is returning “to win a Grand Slam, not simply to play” because the World No. 1 prepares to defend his Australian Open title subsequent month.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, makes his comeback after a close to year-long damage absence on the Australian Open warm-up occasion in Brisbane beginning Sunday.
The 37-year-old Nadal has mentioned that 2024 might be his closing season with out with the ability to “assure it one hundred pc”.
However Djokovic, 36, who received three Grand Slams in 2023 to overhaul the Spaniard with a document 24, expects his rival to be as aggressive as ever.
“I all the time anticipate him (Nadal) to play at his finest, to be trustworthy. Many instances they’ve signed him out, they’ve achieved that with me as effectively. However we’ve proved them fallacious,” Djokovic advised journalists on the sidelines of an exhibition match in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh.
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“He’s not a type of a participant that may come again to the tour simply to play — let’s say — on a medium stage, play a number of matches,” continued Djokovic.
“He needs to win titles, he needs to be the most effective, that’s why he’s who he’s: a legend of our sport. I’m positive that his coaching and preparation is one with an intention to win a Grand Slam.”
Nadal has not performed since a second-round loss to American MacKenzie McDonald on the Australian Open a 12 months in the past.
He twice wanted surgical procedure after battling a hip damage and has slipped to 670th on the earth rankings whereas sidelined.
Alcaraz added, “I believe he’s prepared… I noticed some movies of him practising, he’s one hundred pc. I hear from different gamers that they practised with Rafa in these previous weeks they usually mentioned that he’s going to return to his good stage. His prime stage.”
“I believe he’s prepared for excellent issues this 12 months as effectively,” added the world quantity two of his compatriot.