Three-times French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, who knows what it is like to have a career plagued by injury, believes that former world number one Rafael Nadal would come back stronger from his latest ailments.
Spaniard Nadal has not played since a shock defeat by Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon, since when a wrist problem and a troublesome appendix have sidelined him.
Nadal, whose ninth French Open title in June was a rare highlight in a difficult year, would return to action after Christmas and Kuerten expects the 28-year-old to be challenging for more grand slams in 2015, Sport24 reported.
Kuerten, who was forced to retire in his prime due to hip problems, said that it's worrying for all of them who love watching him when Nadal's injured but then the Spaniard keeps surprising them.
Kuerten said that Nadal turned it around last year and finished up as the number one again. He added that anything is possible for the Spaniard, but it depends on his physical condition and the level of Novak Djokovic.
Kuerten does, however, urge caution. He said that Nadal's style has a massive impact on the body; it's based on his physical performance a lot.
Although it may be asking a lot for Nadal to pick up the pace quickly enough to challenge for the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam, Kuerten believes he would be firing on all cylinders for next year's claycourt season.
Kuerten said that Nadal thinks that is his territory, adding that he thinks even when the Spaniard is 95 years old one won't be able to keep him down. He said that Nadal is like from another planet at Roland Garros.
Kuerten, who finished 2000 at the world number one after beating Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi back-to-back at the ATP Tour Finals in Lisbon, retired in 2008, finally admitting defeat to the injuries that began to torment him shortly after his third Roland Garros title in 2001, the report added.
