This season will be one that Rafael Nadal would love to forget in a hurry. The Spaniard has missed nearly all of 2023 since he sustained a hip injury while playing against Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open back in January.
The sideline meant that Nadal has missed four and a half year’s Grand Slam competition but he is making preparations for a comeback in 2024, as he noted in a tweet that he is working hard to make it happen. Rafael Nadal, who has won the Australian Open twice—in 2009 and 2022—is training hard to return to the court for the 2024 Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal provides update on comeback
Rafael Nadal said that he is making an effort to be ready to play in the 2024 Australian Open in January. Earlier, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley appeared on Nine Network’s Today Show and said Nadal told him he would be back from injury in time to play in the 2024 Australian Open.
Craig Tiley said, “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.“
Rafael Nadal took to X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming that he will play in the Australian Open, he noted that he is “is practicing everyday and working hard to make it happen”. Rafa has missed nearly all of 2023, as he hasn’t played since falling to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open back in January.
Nadal has been dealing with a hip injury that caused him to withdraw from the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. As a result, Rafael Nadal went a full season without winning a Grand Slam title for just the second time in the past seven years.
The lengthy absence has knocked Nadal all the way down to No. 240 in the ATP rankings, marking the first time he has fallen outside the top 100 since 2003 and the first time he has dropped out of the top 10 since 2005.
That means the 37-year-old veteran will have a ton of work to do when he returns if he wants to become a top-ranked player again. The Spanish star is not far removed from playing elite tennis, as he won the 2022 Australian Open and French Open, giving him 22 career Grand Slam singles titles. Novak Djokovic has since surpassed him for the most career Grand Slam singles titles for men’s players with 24, but Nadal remains one of the best to ever do it.
When does Australian Open start?
The 2024 Australian Open will start on a Sunday as the tournament organizers make the Grand Slam a 15-day event for the first time. It will take place from January 14–28. This will see the first round run over three days instead of two on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Rafael Nadal who is set to make his comeback at the Australian Open 2024 after picking up a hip injury in the same tournament, has won the Australian Open twice, defeating Roger Federer in the 2009 final and overcoming injury to topple Daniil Medvedev in 2022 for his 21st Grand Slam title—a tally that hit 22 later that year at Roland Garros.
Who will be the Australian Open champion next year? Make sure to tell us in the comments.
