Rafael Nadal announces comeback at 2024 Australian Open, eager to regain glory

Posted : 11 October 2023

Rafael Nadal has been absent from competitive tennis since his surprising second-round exit at the 2023 Australian Open, where he was defeated by Mackenzie McDonald. Following this loss, the 37-year-old underwent hip surgery, leading to his absence from the remaining Grand Slam events throughout the year.

However, the CEO of the tournament, Craig Tiley, has recently revealed that the Spanish tennis legend is set to make a highly anticipated comeback at the 2024 Australian Open in January. Tiley enthusiastically confirmed, "Rafa will be back."

The 37-year-old Nadal, who has a remarkable 22 Grand Slam titles to his name, faced a setback at the 2023 Australian Open, enduring a surprising early exit at the hands of Mackenzie McDonald.

This loss was compounded by a hip injury sustained during the match, which forced him to withdraw from the French Open in June. Subsequently, Nadal underwent hip surgery, leading to a considerable absence from the professional tennis circuit.

His prolonged absence from competitive play has had an impact on his ATP Tour ranking, as he dropped out of the top 100 for the first time since 2003 due to the limited number of matches he participated in. During his time away, he watched as Novak Djokovic clinched the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles, with 24 to his name. Djokovic's victories in the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open this season solidified his place at the top of men's tennis.

Craig Tiley, the CEO of the Australian Open, delivered the exciting news of Nadal's return, stating, "We can exclusively reveal 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, the champion of 2022.

That's awesome." While there had been hints that 2024 could be Nadal's final competitive season, his representative, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, stated that there are no official announcements regarding his upcoming schedule.

Additionally, Tiley hinted at the potential return of Nick Kyrgios, who had a challenging year due to various injuries. Kyrgios missed all four Grand Slam events in 2023 due to knee, wrist, and foot injuries. Tiley expressed optimism, saying, "We know Nick's been in training, wanting to return as well. So we expect to see him back."

The 2024 Australian Open is expected to welcome back top women's players such as Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Caroline Wozniacki. Tiley emphasized their return, saying, "We'll welcome them - and their families - back to Melbourne with open arms and can't wait to see what their next chapter brings."

Notably, the 2024 Australian Open will mark a historic change, as it will extend to a 15-day duration, commencing on a Sunday to accommodate an expanded schedule.

Rafael Nadal announces comeback at 2024 Australian Open, eager to regain glory

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