Rafael Nadal fans will be encouraged after learning he is back in training ahead of the Olympic Games.
The Spaniard cancelled his practice session on Thursday after reports emerged that he felt some discomfort in groin or hamstring.
Nadal’s coach couldn’t guarantee his participation in Paris, which put a possible second round showdown with Novak Djokovic in jeopardy.
But the 38-year-old remains determined to compete at his third and likely final Olympics and will do everything he can to be on court for his opening match against Márton Fucsovics.
Rafael Nadal is back on court training for the Paris Olympic Games
Avid Nadal fans were fearing the worst following the concerning news that emerged regarding his fitness.
But on Friday morning Spanish news outlet La Hora de La 1 posted a clip of Nadal practicing on Court Phillippe Chatrier alongside doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz.
The pair were standing on the same side of the net as they hit some forehands and continued their preparation for the Olympic Games.
The only concerning sign for Nadal was strapping on his thigh, which seemed to indicate the extent of his injury.
Has Rafael Nadal suffered any other injuries in 2024?
Nadal made his long-awaited return at the start of the 2024 season after missing a year of action due to a serious hip injury.
His first tournament of the year was January’s Brisbane International, where he reached the quarter-finals before losing a gruelling three-set match to Jordan Thompson.
After feeling pain in a similar place to the hip injury that required an operation in June 2023, Nadal did not play again until the European clay-court season in the spring.
He played in Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros before skipping Wimbledon to prioritise preparing for the Olympics which is being held on clay.
To assist him with this, Nadal played at the Swedish Open where he reached his first final since 2022, and finished runner-up and injury-free.
But after suffering a slight setback this week, fans will hope it will not derail Nadal’s chances of more Olympic glory.
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