Feliciano Lopez candidly confesses his wish for Rafael Nadal’s 2024 comeback

Feliciano Lopez believes Rafael Nadal has been greatly missed on the Tour as he is rooting for the record 14-time French Open champion to win one more title at Roland Garros and also have a strong run at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Last week, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal made his comeback plans official as the 37-year-old is returning at the Brisbane International. In May, Nadal held a press conference in Mallorca, where he said he was hoping to return healthy in 2024 and play his last season in pro tennis.

In recent months, Nadal has suggested several times that he won’t be placing high expectations on himself in his return like winning a Grand Slam. The French Open is starting in late May and Lopez hopes that by then Nadal’s level will be good enough for him to contend and win his 15th title at Roland Garros.

Lopez on Nadal’s upcoming comeback

“I was just as worried as everyone. But, since a few months, things have been very different. He has made a lot of progress with the injury and is very happy and eager to return. His intention is to go to Australia.

A tremendous joy. A player like Rafa is missed. As a fan, you don’t know how much longer Djokovic is going to be; Rafa is not there and Federer retired. There is an important void, which Alcaraz fills for the moment. Medvedev has also been successful and Sinner, next year, be careful…

But that does not mean that the void is very big. I hope Rafa arrives in Paris well enough to compete against anyone. I still have faith in seeing him win another Roland Garros. And there are also some Olympic Games there, in the garden of his house,” Lopez told Diario AS.

The Brisbane International starts on December 31st and there will be lots of attention on Nadal and his campaign at the tournament.