Following his plague of injuries throughout the season, Rafael Nadal hopes that his 2015 will far exceed the painful last few months.

While he does not doubt that he will regain top form in time for the forthcoming year, he doubts that he will be able to recreate the “magical” 2013 season. In that year, Nadal compiled a 75-7 record on the tour and won 10 titles, including two Grand Slams and five Masters 1000 titles.

“No, 2013 is magical and unforgettable. 2013 does not return,” he said in an interview with DPA . “I have two more years. I have to try again compete all I need to be at the top.

Nadal was diagnosed with appendicitis during the Shanghai Rolex Masters in September and did not end his 2014 season until a quarter-final loss to 17-year-old Borna Coric in Basel. He eventually withdrew from the Paris Bercy and the ATP World Tour Finals and underwent successful surgery to rectify the problem. He also had his knees checked and underwent stem cell therapy.

“This year I had back problems at first, then wrist, then appendicitis. Many things have happened that have allowed me not having the necessary pace to be competitive in every month of the year. The goal next year is that this does not happen.”

The world No. 3 is expected to return from the sidelines at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in December. He was scheduled to take part in the International Premier Tennis League but withdrew from the event to allow his body time to recover.