World No.2 Rafael Nadal is hopeful of contesting his Brisbane International second round clash on Thursday after an interrupted preparation.
Nadal, 32, was limited to nine tournaments in 2018 due to hip, knee and ankle dramas and last week withdrew from a practice match in UAE.
The 17-time grand slam winner has been eased into the Brisbane International with a first round bye as he prepares for his first ATP event since retiring during the US Open semi-finals in September.
But Nadal wasn’t convincing when asked if he would definitely play his second round clash.
He is set to take on the winner of the showdown between France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis.
“I hope so. (But) I don’t want setbacks. I want to step forward and that is do the best things to stay healthy,” he said.
“My goal is to be on court on Thursday. So that’s the answer.”
While Nadal had a restricted 2018 he still won five tournaments including a record extending 11th French Open title in June and made the semis of Wimbledon and the US Open.
He was still frustrated after pulling out of the 2018 Australian Open quarter-finals with a hip complaint and retired in the third set of his US Open semi-final against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.
Nadal then underwent ankle surgery in November, making his return at last week’s exhibition tournament, the 2018 Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Abu Dhabi.
The Spaniard lost his comeback match in the UAE to world No.6 Kevin Anderson of South Africa 4-6 6-3 6-4 and then withdrew from his next match to keep his body fresh for this month’s Australian Open.
“It (body) is a little bit up and down after coming from a long period of time without competing, and having the surgery one month and two weeks ago,” Nadal said.
“So it’s step by step.
“I didn’t play the second match (in UAE). After all I suffered last year in terms of injuries, I don’t want to make mistakes in terms of playing without being 100 per cent.”
But Nadal said he was confident he still had plenty of his best tennis ahead.
“I really believe that I have a lot of tennis to play in my career, and I really feel that my body is not going worse every year,” he said.
“Accidents happen. I had the problem at the Australian Open…(and) with my knees in the US Open but the knees (problem) will always be there – that’s not new for me.”