Rafael Nadal’s Confidence ‘Coming Back’

After not playing tennis for seven months, super star Rafael Nadal can feel his confidence coming back.

In Nadal’s first tennis action in over half a year, the former number one player in the world has made it to the semi-finals of the VTP Open in Chile.

During his recovery from knee injuries, Nadal had to withdraw from the London Olymics, and more recently had to pull out of an event in Abu Dhabi due a stomach illness.

Now back at full health, CNN reports that Nadal can feel his confidence coming back after advancing to the semi-finals. He says:

“Today I had more confidence than the other days. That is positive. It gives me confidence, and reasons to believe that I’m on the right way. I’m happy to win in singles against a tough opponent like Dani and to reach the semifinals after seven months.”

On Friday he defeated seventh seeded Daniel Gimeno-Traver, a fellow Spaniard.

Overall, Nadal says he has felt very good about the VTP Open:

“In this tournament I had a good feeling. The crowd gave me their support all the time. It helps a lot when you come with a bad feeling.”

In his last open appearance, Nadal lost at Wimbledon to Roger Federer. From then to now his world ranking has dropped from first to fifth.

According to The Telegraph, Nadal’s next opponent, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, “breezed” through his last opponent and won 89 percent of his first-serve points.

How do you think Rafael Nadal will do against Chardy, now that his confidence is back?

[image via Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com]