Rafael Nadal ready to juggle parenthood, career as he braces for Australian Open defence

After a brilliant start to the 2022 season that saw him win four titles - including the Australian Open and French Open - Nadal's form turn patchy during the second half of the campaign.

He lost in the fourth round of the US Open, in the opening round of the Paris Masters and lost two of his three group matches at the ATP Finals. The start of the 2023 campaign has not gone better as he lost both his singles rubbers at the United Cup.

Despite his recent troubles, the 22-time Grand Slam winner is feeling good ahead of the season-opening major at Melbourne Park.

"It's true that the last couple of tournaments I wasn't able to play my standards and here at the beginning of the season I lost two matches in Sydney, but honestly, I am not unhappy with the preparation," the Spaniard said.

"I need to win matches for sure. But the preparation is going quite well, practising a lot and I think I am in good shape. Then you need to demonstrate that in the matches, in the official tournaments.

"But I'm confident that if I am able to have this last week of positive practices, why not?"

Life on the tennis tour is different for Nadal this year as he is a father after his wife gave birth to a boy in October last year.

Both mother and child have travelled with the tennis great to Australia for the tennis summer Down Under.

The 36-year-old admits he has plenty of juggling to do, but is getting used to it.

"It's about adapting to this new part of my life in all ways," the Spaniard said.

"You need a little bit more of organisation than before without a doubt.

"But it's the first time that happens in my life.

"So I need some time to adjust all the things that are going to help me to stay the same as before, but I think I have all the things around me that help me to keep going without problems."