Rafael Nadal will attempt to add a second Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (DDFTC) title to his uber-impressive CV that boasts a record 22 grand slam titles when he makes a much-anticipated return to the championship after a gap of 15 years.
Currently ranked world No. 2, Nadal won the DDFTC title in 2006 and last thrilled a packed Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium way back in 2008.
The ATP 500 event, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, runs from 27 February to 4 March.
The 36-year-old Nadal had a magical, and some might say, almost impossible, 2022. He won a second Australian Open early in the year after making a comeback from a six-month injury layoff for his 21st major title. He then won a remarkable 14th French Open singles title – a feat that most experts feel will never be repeated in the history of the sport.
After his win in Melbourne, Nadal revealed he thought of quitting tennis several times as he dealt with his niggling foot injury.
“I went through a lot of challenging moments, a lot of days of hard work without seeing a light there,” said Nadal. “But still working and still receiving plenty of support from my team and from my family, too, without a doubt. A lot of conversations with them about what can happen or what’s going to happen if things continue like this…thinking that maybe it is time to say goodbye.
“For a long time, I wasn’t able to practise. Sometimes I went on court and I was able to practise 20 minutes, sometimes 45, sometimes zero, but it has been very, very tough in terms of just imagining myself playing a best-of-five match.
“Of course, my months were not tough at all compared to a lot of families that lost a lot of people. But in terms of a personal thing, yeah, because every day has been an issue in terms of problems with the foot.”
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, welcomed back the former world No. 1 to the tournament and said: “As one of the most instantly recognisable personalities in global sport, and one of the most decorated players to ever grace the game, we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Rafa back to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after 15 years.
“The last time Rafa played in Dubai, he had won three Grand Slams. He returns having amassed more Grand Slam titles than any other male player in history.”
In 2006 in Dubai, Nadal won his first ATP Tour final against the then world No1 and top seed Roger Federer, with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 effort.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships men’s tournament is preceded by the 23rd edition of the annual WTA event. The women’s tournament runs between February 19-25. Tickets for the championships go on sale online from 17 January.
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