Rafael Nadal on comeback: 'I don't expect much'

Rafael Nadal believes it is "impossible" for him to think about winning tournaments as he prepares to make his comeback from a year on the sidelines.

The former world number one has not played a match since injuring his hip during a second-round contest at the Australian Open in January but will take his place in the draw at the Brisbane International, which begins on Sunday.

Speaking at an appearance at Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, Nadal said: "I am feeling good. I can’t complain. I’m feeling much better today than what I expected a month ago.

"For me, it’s impossible to think about winning tournaments. But what’s really possible is to try to enjoy the comeback to the courts. I don’t expect much. Honestly, the only thing that I expect is to be able to go on court, to feel competitive and to give my best.

"It’s going to be a tough process at the beginning. At the end, it’s one year without being on the tennis court and I just have been practising for the last month in a very good intensity. I don’t say that nothing is impossible, but just to be here is a victory."

In May, Nadal admitted that he was staring at the end of his career as attempts to recover from the injury failed and that he hoped to be able to play a final year on tour in 2024.

He had surgery in June and, although recent weeks have been encouraging, the 37-year-old is not looking too far ahead.

The 22-time grand slam champion said he would not be setting "super long-term goals, because I don’t see myself playing for a super long time".

He added: "Try to give myself the opportunity to be more and more competitive as the season goes on. I am not the player that that tries to predict what kind of things can happen in the short term, and it’s even tougher in a medium