Former world number one and 11-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is in no doubt his goal when fit again is to return to the dizzying heights of tennis.
Nadal has been sidelined with a chronic knee injury since his shock exit from Wimbledon following a loss to unheralded Lukas Rosol in June.
The Spaniard has now returned to training ahead of the 2013 season, which will begin with the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.
“My goal, when I return, is to give it all I’ve got. If my maximum is enough to be No. 1, then I’m happy, and if it’s enough to be No. 8, then I’ll be happy also,” Nadal told reporters.
He added: “With a week of training, no miracles or timetables. I am working to return to being the same as I was before the injury and am sure that we are going to make it.”
Nadal previously battled a foot injury and successfully came back from that problem and he reflected on that, when he said: “I came back the same or better, and my goal is to do it again this time.”