Tennis great Rafael Nadal has put to rest rumours he would retire from the sport with the announcement that he’ll be playing in the Australian Open next January.
Tournament boss Craig Tiley broke the news on Australian television on Wednesday morning local time, thrilling fans of the 37-year-old Spanish Grand Slam legend.
‘We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back,’ Tiley told the Today show.
‘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.’
The 37-year-old hasn’t played since injury ruined his run at another Australian Open title in January this year (pictured)
Nadal has been sidelined by a lingering hip injury and was forced to make an emotional announcement that he would miss this year’s French Open and Wimbledon (pictured)
It will be Nadal’s first action on the ATP Tour since he crashed out of this year’s Australian Open while he struggled badly with a hip injury.
He withdrew from the French Open in an emotional press conference in May, with the lingering complaint also ruling him out of Wimbledon.
Nadal explained that he had not been able to train properly for months, and that he would never just make up the numbers at Roland Garros, where he has won the men’s singles title a staggering 14 times.
It was the first time he’d missed the clay-court Grand Slam since 2004.
Nadal’s withdrawal from the clay-court Grand Slam he has won 14 times led to speculation that his incredible career was drawing to a close (pictured playing in the 2023 Australian Open)
‘After many years playing there, you can imagine how much of a difficult decision it’s been for me,’ he said.
‘This isn’t a decision I’ve made, it’s a decision my body has made. I’m not going to be playing for the next few months.’
Asked about taking a break from the game, he said: ‘I’ve got to draw a line and that’s what I’m doing now. Over the next few months I’m going to strengthen my physical state and recuperate.
‘I need to put my career on hold and I’m going to try and regenerate my body. I’m not going to set a deadline – that’s going to be when I will feel ready physically.’
He pledged to come back to the sport by the end of 2023, before making the most of 2024.
‘I want to go back to all the tournaments that have been important to me in my career,’ he said, adding that he hoped to make one final farewell appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris – and naturally, Roland Garros hosts the tennis.
Nadal’s wife Maria Perello broke down in tears in the stands when he crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round.
The Spaniard won his 14th French Open men’s singles title in 2022 (pictured) and has said he wants to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics
He was obviously affected by the hip complaint as he lost in straight sets to Mackenzie McDonald.
The 22-time grand slam winner pulled up during the loss and required an immediate medical time out.
He was down a set and a break against the 65th-ranked player when he injured himself after reaching to make a wide ball.
The Spaniard immediately grimaced and after McDonald held his serve to move to 5-3 in the second, Nadal called for the medical break.
However, Nadal made it back on to court and picked up his racket to enthusiastic applause from the crowd gathered at the Rod Laver Arena.
Nadal won the first game after the resumption but shook his head to his significant entourage, staring at the floor at every changeover thereafter before losing 6-4 6-4 7-5.
It was the sixth time injury or illness had ruined his Australian Open campaign, and he was also forced to pull out of his 2022 Wimbledon semi-final showdown against Nick Kyrgios.
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