‘I don’t know when I will play again,’ admits Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal says he ‘doesn’t know’ when he will be able to return to the ATP Tour as he continues to battle injury.

Nadal played a full clay season this year before it was ended by Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the French Open.

However, after a poor performance on the hardcourts in Washington, Nadal revealed he had been suffering with a foot problem and he would end his season early to try and get on top of it.

Video footage emerged earlier this week of Nadal practicing at his academy, but he himself says he cannot yet put a date on his comeback.

“I want to recover from this injury in good condition,” Rafael Nadal said.

“I don’t know when I will play again, I work a lot every day, I follow a specific plan with a marked roadmap and with very clear objectives.

“I will not say what those objectives are, because there are always things that I can’t control one hundred percent, but inside my head I’m clear on what my objectives are and I trust that things will follow a positive course.

“I am in a process of recovery, of work, with a progressive increase in loads and the sensations are not measured daily.

“You have to be a little cautious, look a little in the medium term.”