Australian Open boss delivers huge ‘exclusive’ Rafael Nadal news
The countdown to Rafael Nadal’s return to action can now officially get underway with Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley confirming that he will take part in the 2024 tournament.
Tennis great Nadal has not set foot on a tennis court for a competitive match since he injured his hip during his second-round defeat to MacKenzie McDonald at this year’s Australian Open back in January.
With the hip injury a lot more serious than initially thought, the 22-time Grand Slam winner was forced to undergo surgery in June and his doctors stated his rehabilitation would take a minimum of five months.
According to that timeline, Nadal should start taking tentative steps towards a comeback in November and the Davis Cup Finals knockout stage was initially mooted as a return event, but with Spain failing to qualify he is now expected to only return next year.
And those who were worried that he might not play at the season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park can breathe a sigh of relief as Tiley has revealed Nadal, along with Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios are set to feature next year.
Two-time Australian Open champion Osaka missed this year’s tournament as she was pregnant with her first child and, having given birth on July 7, she has stated that she will return to Melbourne in 2024.
Asked about Osaka’s comeback on Australia’s Nine’s Today, Tiley said: “The return of some of the greats, and those champions who have been off for a couple of years.
“We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back.
“He’s been off for most of the year, and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about. That’s awesome.
“And we know Nick’s [Kyrgios] been in training so we expect to see him back.”
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Kyrgios also missed this year’s Australian Open due to injury with the maverick with the hometown favourite withdrawing from the tournament on the eve of his first match due to a knee problem.
The 28-year-old has played only one match this year – a first-round defeat at the Stuttgart Open in June – and has slumped to No 470 in the ATP Rankings.
Nadal, meanwhile, sits at No 240 in the rankings while Osaka’s ranking is on hold while she is on maternity leave.
However, all three players will be able be able to use their protected ranking to compete at the hard-court Grand Slam early next year.
