Exclusive: Boris Becker says Rafael Nadal will only return to tennis if he ‘sees a chance for himself’ to win titles

In an exclusive conversation with Eurosport, Boris Becker says he believes Rafael Nadal will only return to action if he thinks he has a chance of winning more silverware.

The 37-year-old Nadal has spent the last eight months injured after he suffered a shock second-round exit at the Australian Open in January.

Nadal picked up a hip injury in a straight-sets defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald, and the issue has dogged him ever since.

The Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the French Open in June and subsequently underwent hip surgery. A five-month timeline was given for his recovery.

It is yet unclear as to when – or if – Nadal will make a comeback.

Having won 92 ATP singles titles – including 22 Grand Slams – and being one of two men to achieve the Career Golden Slam of four majors plus gold in the Olympic men’s singles, Nadal is no stranger to fighting until the end.

Because of that, Tennis legend Becker thinks Nadal will only return to the sport if he truly believes he can win more titles.

“Nadal is a role model for everyone. Millions of fans around the world want to see him back on the tennis court and not in the press conference, where he declares that he may not be able to play again,” Becker said on Eurosport Germany’s podcast Das Gelbe vom Ball.

“I also believe that he would never come back if he doesn’t see a chance for himself. So, he’s not coming back to play the first or second round, but to win tournaments.

“His ultimate goal will always be Paris, will possibly be the [2024] Olympics in Paris, which will be played on clay at Roland Garros. But for that he needs the legendary match practice, and he can only get that at tournaments.

“So it’s hard to get started. He’ll get a bit of a kicking at first, but then we’ll go into February – if he stays healthy – and March and April, when it’s played on clay. Then he’ll have had his ten, 15 matches – and I would never bet against Rafael Nadal on clay.”

“Rafa is fine, recovering. If everything goes well, he wants to return to the courts for the 2024 Australian Open,” Toni said in an interview with ElDesmarque de Cuatro.

Earlier this week Nadal gave a rare fitness update, posting a photo of him swimming in Mallorca with the caption: “Working.”

Nadal played only four matches this year, losing twice at the inaugural United Cup in Australia before winning his opening match at the 2023 Australian Open, but losing his second to McDonald.