Rafael Nadal admits return from injury in 2012 is unlikely I am working to try to come back to practice on the tennis court in a not very long period of time. Nadal, an 11-time grand slam winner, has suffered his fair share of niggles over his career but very few long-term injuries and admitted he was unsure of how long this setback may persist. "That is something I will know when my I feel my knee completely without pain when I start to practice," he said. I didn't have in the past this long period of time outside of the tennis court, outside of the competition. I can imagine when I come back I will need time to practice and practice more and more every day, maybe that will take one month and a half. The most important thing is to continue with the treatment ... when I don't feel nothing, hopefully that will happen soon, I will come back on the tennis court. Toni Nadal, Rafael's coach, said last week that he expected him to play again this year.