Toni Nadal Reveals Rafa's Return Date, Shares Safin's Assessment Of New Generation

Rafael Nadal is expected to return to action at the Paris Masters at the end of October after suffering a knee injury during the 2018 US Open.

The Spaniard first felt discomfort in his knee during his third round clash against Karen Khachanov but continued to play and progress to the semi-final. The 2017 US Open champion came up against Juan Martin del Potro in the last four but was unable to continue after struggling to play the first two sets.

Nadal looked in good form going into the semi-final and many had pegged him as the favorite ahead of Novak Djokovic, who eventually won the tournament by beating Del Potro in straight sets. But injury struck to force him out and it will now keep him out for over a month.

The 17-time men’s singles Grand Slam champion’s former coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, has revealed that his nephew will return to action at the Paris Masters, which begins on Oct. 29. The world number one will miss the Asian swing — the China Open in Beijing and the Shanghai Masters — which will see him lose 1,100 points allowing the chasing pack — Roger Federer and Djokovic — to close up to him at the top of the world rankings.

However, Nadal Sr. believes it is a good move for him not to rush his comeback as it will lead to further complications. The 32-year-old is no stranger to injuries, as he suffered a thigh injury that kept him out for almost two and a half months earlier in the season.

“In the last conversation we had Rafa told me that he will be back in Paris and that he won't play the Asian swing because he would not be ready to compete," said Toni.

"There is no reason to force the return,” he said, according to Tennis World USA. “He already has experience and if he forces it gets complicated. At 32 years what he needs to do is what he is doing, taking care and not being in a rush.”

Uncle Toni, as he fondly known by many on the ATP Tour, also agrees with Marat Safin’s recent assessment that the reason Nadal and Federer are allowed to continue their recent dominance is because the younger generation is not good enough.

The likes of Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Nick Kyrgios have made breakthroughs on the tour but have been unable to challenge the two veterans, who have occupied top spot in the world rankings since mid-2017. Even the likes of Marin Cilic, Del Potro, and Grigor Dimitrov, who are in the generation between the young and the veterans have not made an impact to dethrone the two greats of the current era.

“It has been said for a long time even if no one described it this way. New generations always replaced the previous ones in all the aspects of the life. It did not happen and there should be an explanation,” Nadal Sr. added.

“In our case at the beginning the best ones in the world were a little bit older than 21 years, there was someone older but not so much, like (Juan Carlos) Ferrero. It's something strange even if I believe that it coincides with the society changing and that now kids do not make such an effort as before and do not live it in an intense way,” he added.