Former World No 1 Rafael Nadal will be donning the Spanish jersey again to take on his opponents during his comeback stint. The legendary player has been out of active tennis for well over seven months because of consistent injuries. David Ferrer was the lone compatriot who was to represent Spain on the international arena without much success as much as that of Nadal.
The comeback hero would not be participating in the ATP tournament at Chile. All eyes would be on him as people would like to know whether the Spaniard would be able to continue the same indomitable form for which he is famously known for.
Nadal would be flying to Chile on Thursday with a renewed approach along with a new racket to pursue his business interests so that he could put an effective end to the impending questions that are wide open regarding his tennis.
Can the world champion go back to being the player he once was known for? After Nadal confirmed his return to the tour after a long injury break, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) moved ahead to check him for doping four times in two weeks, as per the sources close to the player. Eventually, Nadal was tested “six or seven” times before he ensured his return, ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti told.
Moreover, since he regained fitness from a double knee injury and began to play again in November, the Spanish star has spent most of his time planning to adapt to the new tool of his trade: Babolat’s Aeropro Drive racket.
Similar to that of other players, Nadal means just business when it comes to his sport; he does not like to mend ways that what seems to be working. But that is exactly what coaches are there for.
“Uncle Toni put pressure on Rafa to change. If you want to be better, you have to take risks,” Eric Babolat, the owner of the firm that makes the racket Nadal has been playing with since age 12, informed.
“I don’t agree with what you’re saying, but I’ll give it a try,” Babolat said Nadal generally tells his uncle-coach.
According to the French businessman, the brand new racket and firm strings give “more power and more control” to the Spaniard’s shots.
“More top spin, he already has a lot of that but he wants more,” said Babolat.
The racket maker accepts it is “a nightmare for rivals,” generally alarmed by the height that Nadal’s strokes attain due to this top spin effect.
By the close of the year, the racket could be even more effective to science fiction, as the plan is to have a chip that will garner information about every stroke.
“It could become a habit, something usual after sport: sitting with your friends to compare each one’s technical data,” Babolat says emphatically.
Meanwhile, the Spaniard would try to get used to his racket ahead of the Vina del Mar, Sao Paulo and Acapulco tournaments he is set to play in February.
