Nadal set to participate in the Australian Open following his recovery from an injury
Tournament director Craig Tiley announced that Rafael Nadal will make his comeback in Grand Slam competition at the Australian Open in January. This tournament is expected to mark Nadal's likely farewell to Melbourne.
In response, Nadal expressed his gratitude on social media for the tournament's "trust" in him, although he did not confirm his participation.
The 22-time major champion has been sidelined due to a hip injury, and he hasn't competed since his second-round defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January of this year.
The 37-year-old athlete has endured two surgeries during his extensive rehabilitation and recently stated that he's still aiming to conclude his career in 2024.
Craig Tiley, the Australian Open tournament director, revealed, "Our 2022 champion Rafa Nadal has been diligently focusing on his recovery throughout most of this year. He (Nadal) consistently delivers his best performance in Melbourne, and his competitive spirit is beyond question."
He further added, "I've been in contact with his team, and I'm pleased to report that he's back on the court and eagerly anticipating his return to Melbourne in January."
Throughout his recovery journey, Nadal has refrained from setting specific deadlines.
Nadal expressed his gratitude on X, stating, "I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open… I am practicing every day and working hard to come back ASAP."
Tournament organizers are hopeful that Nadal's highly anticipated return will provide a significant challenge to Novak Djokovic, the reigning champion and ten-time Melbourne winner, thus adding to the competition's excitement.
Following knee surgery earlier this year, Kyrgios presents a potential challenge to Djokovic.
Nonetheless, Nadal has emphasized that his primary goal is to make a comeback to competitive tennis, without placing the emphasis on securing additional trophies.
He stated in September, "My aim is not to return with the expectation of winning Roland Garros or the Australian Open, so as not to create any misconceptions. Those goals are a distant prospect."
Nadal further clarified, "I am fully conscious of the challenges ahead, with the most formidable being age, and the other hurdles being physical issues."
He continued, "What gives me optimism is the prospect of getting back on the court and being competitive once more."
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