Conversation serves only to heighten the apprehension ...

Make use of my Times log-on with the article that served as a pre-cursor to the big interview that has been published today.

Mr Harmans talks of the Christmas Dinner that Rafa had with his team the other night, and that rather than leaving Rafa with a feeling that he'd be back better than ever, he senses his nervousness. Of course Rafa is nervous. And it would be so un-Rafa-like to trumpet any grand return. He'll know better how he feels in a week's time ...

Here's the article ...

Thirty of Rafael Nadal’s clan, friends and supporters sat down around a dinner table on Thursday night to celebrate the bonds that tie them together. His family was there in force; his manager, trainers, public relations boss, sponsors and doctors were all in attendance. The mood was typically Spanish: light-hearted, contented, if a little reserved.

The man in the centre has had his life put on hold for the past six months, as have the majority of those around him. When Nadal is out there in the middle, he is comforted by the sight of so many he loves and respects, and it has been the same as he has tried to work his way back to the fitness levels necessary to compete with the young titans at the top of the tennis game. It did not particularly help that Nadal was not feeling 100 per cent in himself, a little chill serving to remind him that he is not impervious to catching a cold.

That has been the sense in tennis since Nadal was bashed around Centre Court in the second round of Wimbledon this year by Lukas Rosol, a Czech who lost in the next round to Philipp Kohlschreiber, of Germany and failed to qualify for the US Open before ending the year by winning an ATP Challenger in Bratislava and rising to No 73 in the world, eight places from his career high.

It did not require mention of Rosol to make Nadal come out in a sweat.

The tennis world has been fevered with expectation about the Spaniard’s return to the scene since he left Wimbledon in July. He has come close a few times, but, he says, has got himself into a worse state by thinking too optimistically about his preparedness rather than letting nature take its course. He says that he is not patient but trying to remain positive.

I had hoped to come away from our conversation certain that he would be back better than ever, but the sense was more of nervous apprehension. He is being cautious, not willing to say too much too soon. He knows that Spain is agog, and that is a tremendous pressure to bear. He is the country’s most favoured sportsman and at a time that Spain is in the grip of a savage economic downturn, they want their hearts to be lightened. They know that, in Nadal, they have someone who can do that.

They may have to wait a while for complete fulfilment. Nadal is not quite there; he is a little way from being ready to play. He needs to be given him time and space. By the French Open in May, perhaps, the real Nadal will be with us. It will be worth waiting for ...