Watch: Nadal Supports Tiger's Comeback

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Popular This Week

Bob Bryan on U.S. Davis Cup Doubles Decision

Rafa Nadal Defines Legacy in Three Words

Rafa That! Federer Pens Emotional Tribute to Retirin...

Depth and Desire Keys for U.S. Davis Cup Quest

TC to Televise Nadal's Davis Cup Farewell

Netherlands Captain: Hope to Give Nadal Nice Adios

Fritz: All In for Davis Cup

Watch: Nadal Supports Tiger's Comeback

Rafael Nadal took a break from his holiday break to watch a Grand Slam champion's comeback.

Nadal walked the course following Tiger Woods in his comeback at the Hero World Challenge Golf Tournament in the Bahamas over the weekend.

Watch: Nadal Aces Golf Pro-Am

The 16-time Grand Slam champion said he was both impressed and surprised by Woods' performance following a nine-month sabbatical from the sport after his fourth back surgery.

“I’ve seen him play before, but I didn’t expect to watch him play this well at the beginning,” Nadal told The New York Post's Mark Cannizzaro while walking down the 18th fairway. “I think this is a very important moment now for golf and himself and for all the people who love the sport in general. He’s the most charismatic star golf has had in the past 50 years or so. For everyone to see him back is something great for the sport.”

The 31-year-old Nadal knows about successful comebacks. Nadal pulled the plug on his 2016 season to recovery from the wrist injury the forced him to withdraw from Roland Garros and pull out of Wimbledon last year.

Nadal bounced back capturing two of the four Grand Slam titles this year and regaining the world No. 1 ranking nine years after he initially ascended to the top spot.

The US Open champion said health is the key component to a successful comeback.

“When you are injured, as I went through a couple of times in my career, you don’t think about what other people are thinking — you think about coming back and being healthy,” Nadal said. “You know that the beginning is going to be tough, for sure, and you have to be ready for those tough situations.

“And when you go through them, you are stronger. You have a lot of energy and passion because you weren’t able to be able to do what you used to be able to do for awhile.”

The Grand Slam champions are friends and fellow Nike endorsers.

Woods attended Nadal's US Open semifinal conquest of Juan Martin del Potro in September.

Photo credit: @TSNTennis

Posted: