World number five Rafael Nadal humbly acknowledged that things won’t automatically go back to normal now that he’s back on tour. He said that he will have to take things slowly.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion was away from the ATP World Tour for eight months and he makes his comeback at the VTR Open 2013 which takes place in Vina del Mar in Chile.
“I need weeks of working [on] the circuit. This is my first week and I don’t think the goals are the same that the ones I will have in two more months,” Nadal said.
“I have to take it slowly and be humble to know that things won’t be as good as they were before my injury. I need to be patient,” he added.
Aside from taking part in the singles event, Nadal opted to play the doubles with good friend Juan Monaco of Argentina. The duo will start their match on Tuesday against second-seeded Czech team of Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy. His singles match starts on Wednesday since he has a bye as the tournament top seed.
“I hope the tournament will help me to get the feeling I need to add week after week after a long period without competition,” he said.
“If my knee doesn’t hurt I have no fear. I’ve had had more serious injuries in the past and I got stronger after them,” he added.
The former world number one is not focusing right now of reclaiming the top ranking but instead he’s going to focus one match at a time.
Nadal only has great things to say about his stay in Chile.
“It’s been fantastic; the people have been incredible to me,” he said.
