London: Brit tennis ace Andy Murray has claimed Rafael Nadal must show form of old if he is to spread fear among rivals on his return from injury, adding the Spaniard might take some time to return to his best.
Nadal will on Tuesday begin tennis’s most anticipated comeback since Bjorn Borg dusted off his wooden racket in 1991.
After seven months out with a knee injury, Nadal rejoins the tour as the world No 5, as well as the top seed in low-profile clay court tournaments in Chile, Brazil and Mexico.
Asked whether the returning Nadal would still inspire the same sense of awe in lesser-ranked opponents, Murray replied he doesn’t think straightaway he would be the same player.
Murray added the first weeks you would think people would be expecting Nadal not to be at his highest level, adding they will believe they will be able to upset him.
The US Open champion said over time, that aura comes with winning, confidence, adding if Nadal wins the first two or three tournaments back in South America, that changes and people will be worrying about him getting back to his top form quickly.
Murray added we will just have to see how Nadal does at the tournaments but he will get it back again and he expects him to stay around the top of the game for a few years for sure.
ANI
First Published: Wednesday, February 06, 2013, 08:14