Rafael Nadal hopes for injury-free 2015 season

Rafael Nadal is confident of returning to action in 2015

Madrid, Nov 19 (IANS)

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal said that he hopes to be fit enough to be able to compete without injury worries in the 2015 season. Nadal suffered back and wrist injuries, forcing him to miss the second half of the 2014 season, and he has recently recovered from an appendicitis surgery in Barcelona at the start of this month, reports Xinhua.

"I hope that in terms of health, 2015 will be a year that allows me to compete," said Nadal, who aims to be fit for the Australian Open in January.

"I have all of December and the start of January to train before the Australian Open and I hope that will be enough for me to get to the level that I want to be at," said the Mallorca-born player, who added he only needed "a little more time" before returning to training.

That is something he is clearly looking forward to after seeing the second half of 2014 ruined by his fitness problems.

"The last six months have been complicated. Now I would like to start the year well and be at my best every week I have to compete," commented Nadal, who was partly satisfied with his performance during this season.

"I can't make a positive balance because I have been injured, but a year in which I won a Grand Slam (Roland Garros) is never going to be a bad year. I would be happy if the next three years were as good as this," he explained.

Nadal, who has won 14 Grand Slam titles, added he was a "long way" off returning to the Davis Cup team as Spain look to return to the World Group under the guidance of new captain, Gala Leon, but said he "100 percent respected" the decision to name a female captain.

The 28-year-old said his recent injuries were not a sign that he is nearing the end of his career.

"These are things that happen. It's not a chronic injury and it's different from the knee problems I had in 2012," he said.