Rafael Nadal return news revealed that the Spanish tennis superstar made a triumphant comeback from a wrist injury, while also questioning Gala Leon's appointment as Spain's new Davis Cup captain.
Nadal played in his first game in almost three months on Thursday as he scored a 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in an exhibition match in Astana, Kazakhstan. He struggled early on, but looked sharp in the second and third sets of the match.
Nadal has not played since suffering an upset loss to Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round of the 2014 Wimbledon on July 1. And now that he finally made his return, Nadal said that he is motivated to get back on top.
"Every time when I come back after an injury I have an extra motivation," the Spaniard said in a Rafael Nadal return news on SuperSport. "I'm set to work hard to gain my top form and to return to my level. I'm very happy to have an opportunity to play tennis - my favorite occupation."
The 28-year-old hurt his wrist in training and was forced to miss the 2014 US Open where he was the defending champion. He was also sidelined during Spain's Davis Cup campaign.
Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, said that his injured wrist is feeling much better now, but he admitted that he is still struggling to regain his rhythm.
"I feel much better, I am in good shape. I am trying to forget the wrist. I am trying to get back into a rhythm but that takes time," Nadal said.
Meanwhile, Nadal also questioned the Spanish Tennis Federation's decision to name Gala Leon as the new Davis Cup captain of Spain.
Nadal said that he has nothing against Leon, but he called her appointment as a "strange" decision, pointing out that there are other deserving candidates for the job.
"It (the nomination) is strange. I don't know her (Gala Leon) and I don't have anything against her, but usually being nominated as the Davis Cup captain was a prize after a great career, and there are many players who had fantastic careers and haven't served as captain yet," the Manacor, Spain native said in a Rafael Nadal return news.
