It comes as no surprise that Rafael Nadal has vowed to do everything he can to be fit in time for the start of the Wimbledon Championships on June 22.
As defending champion, Nadal will have the honour of being the first up on Centre Court and it would be huge disappointment if he were to be absent from proceedings.
Rumours began to circulate over his fitness for Wimbledon when he was forced to withdraw from the AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club, stating that he was facing a race to be fit for SW19.
From the moment he uttered those words it became apparent that speculation would go into overdrive and Tuesday’s announcement that he would try to be fit for Wimbledon appears to have been forced upon him.
He made no secret of the fact that he was undergoing tests and treatment on his troublesome knees and when he confirmed on Monday that he would issue a statement on his Wimbledon plans on Tuesday led to speculation that he would miss the championships.
Instead he merely confirmed that he would continue preparing for the grass court event, although he still faces a race to be fit to take his place alongside the likes of Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the draw.
Nadal’s absence would take some of the gloss of what is shaping up to be an intriguing fortnight at the All England Club and organisers and fans alike are hoping that his intensive treatment will work the oracle.
Following Nadal’s defeat of Federer in the epic final 12 months ago it was suggested that the Swiss legend was a spent force – suggestions that were backed up with his failure to win a title between October and May – but his triumph at Roland Garros has seen the 14-time Grand Slam winner re-emerge as a genuine contender for Wimbledon.
Federer is desperate to exact his revenge on Nadal for ending his unbeaten streak at Wimbledon and with the 28-year-old once again looking sharp a potential final clash would have organisers salivating.
Also in the mix is Britain’s great hope – Andy Murray. He has improved no end over the last 18 months and as number three in the world he has to be ranked as a huge danger to the likes of Nadal and Federer.
However, Nadal remains the one they have to beat and one can only hope that he wins his fitness battle to ensure a truly memorable fortnight.