Rafael has revealed he doubted “every single day” he would return to tennis during his injury nightmare last season. The 20-time grand slam winner kept his bid for a second Australian Open title on track with a battling 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Russia’s Karen Khachanov on Friday. The Spaniard is unbeaten in Melbourne this month, having returned to action by winning the Summer Set 1 warm-up tournament. But he admitted after his third round win on Rod Laver Arena that things could have been a lot different. "Lots of energy in my pocket to keep going, keep fighting." @RafaelNadal is not done with yet 👊 #AusOpen • #AO2022 • #AOinterview pic.twitter.com/3joVZ1ziTi — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2022 “For a lot of months, sometimes I went on court, I tried every morning but sometimes I was not able to practise more than 20 minutes, other days 45, some for two hours,” Nadal told Eurosport. “But it has been very difficult to predict every single day. I was working with the doctor trying to find a solution. I tried different things but it’s tough.” McEnroe questions Osaka’s attitude after Australian Open exit Nadal withdrew from last year’s US Open just 10 days out from the tournament, ending his 2021 season because of the left foot issue that had been troubling him all year. “It’s tough,” the 35-year-old added on Friday. “Injuries are easier to accept if you know how long it takes to recover. “But with the foot injury it’s much tougher because every day in the gym, and on court without any improvement, and that’s mentally much tougher.” Sixth seed Nadal was “super happy” with his performance against Khachanov, given every he had been through the last six months. “In the third set I made a couple of mistakes. But I was able to change the dynamic again in the fourth,” he told Eurosport. “Things can’t be perfect without a long time being comfortable. I played a very good level of tennis, if you tell me that a month and a half ago I wouldn’t believe. “I don’t know what can happen in the future but I’m enjoying it.”