The Australian Open will welcome Rafael Nadal back to Grand Slam tennis in January, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday. Tiley told Channel Nine’s ‘The Today Show’ that the 37-year-old former world number one will participate in the Melbourne Park major. “We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be playing,” Tiley said.
The Spanish legend has not played a tour match since hurting his hip flexor in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Melbourne Park major earlier this year. He initially expected to miss eight weeks, but his recovery from the injury has not gone to plan, leading him to push back his return to action on multiple occasions.
Nadal has a reputation for approaching every match as if it were his last, and that hard-charging style has contributed to several injuries over the years. That has led to many fans fearing that his latest setback could hasten the end of a glittering career.
Tiley was embroiled in the Novak Djokovic visa fiasco in the lead-up to this year’s Australian Open, but he said on Wednesday that he still plans to be at the helm of the event next summer. “I have no intention of leaving,” Tiley told the Reuters news agency.
Despite the setback in his recovery from his hip injury, Tiley has maintained that Nadal will return to form in time to compete at the 2024 Australian Open, which starts on Jan 14. “I know Rafa is working hard to prepare for this,” Tiley said.
It will be Nadal’s 19th appearance in the main draw at the Australian Open, which he has won twice before and been runner-up on four other occasions. The Spaniard will have a wild card in the event. It is possible that he could be tempted to play the tournament to build up his fitness ahead of his return to the top of the rankings, though he has ruled out playing at this year’s French Open on clay — which he had hoped to contest before his hip injury.
Besides Nadal, Kyrgios is also expected to be in the field at Melbourne Park, where he has won three times. The Australian Open will take place from Jan 14-28. The tournament’s official launch was held on Wednesday, with Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, and Angelique Kerber all expected to be defending champions following maternity leave. The tournament will also feature the likes of Wimbledon champions Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray and runner-ups Simona Halep and Serena Williams.
