OFFICIAL: Rafael Nadal will play the 2024 Australian Open announces tournament director Craig Tiley

Rafael Nadal was seen preparing for his return on court in clips circulated on the internet.

OFFICIAL: Rafael Nadal will play the 2024 Australian Open announces tournament director Craig Tiley

Rafael Nadal (Image via: RadioHouse)

22-times Grand Slam champ, Rafael Nadal is eyeing his 23rd Major win at the first Grand Slam of 2024. Nadal recently confirmed his presence in the Australian Open, scheduled to be held in January next year. Tournament director for the Slam, Craig Tiley confirmed the news on Wednesday.

“We can reveal exclusively here that Rafael Nadal will be back,” Tiley claimed in a conversation with Australia’s Nine network. He stated that Nadal has confirmed his presence in Australia in 2024 for the title run at the Slam event earlier in a conversation with him. Nadal, who has won the Slam on two previous occasions, reached the end of his season after he suffered an injury and made a second-round exit at the Australian Open in 2023.

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The Spanish maestro had to undergo a ‘hip-replacement surgery’ earlier this year in June and didn’t play at any events after he crashed out of the Australian Open as the No.1 seed in January. He hasn’t returned on court since.

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“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,” Tiley revealed on the Australian Television Program, Today.

Former World No.1, Nadal, is often deemed as one of the greatest players in tennis. Apart from Nadal fans hoping a 23rd Major win for the Spaniard at the Australian Open next year, there are other things that make the next year significant for the player.

The 37-year-old has, on a few previous occasions, expressed his desire to retire from the sport after 2024. For tennis enthusiasts, this makes the upcoming 2024 season of tennis extremely special, as Nadal might return to the court for the last time.

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Novak Djokovic thanks Rafael Nadal for pushing him to do better

Just a few short years ago, Rafael Nadal dominated Novak Djokovic in all the courts. Even now, though the Serb leads him in the No. of Grand Slam victories, their Grand Slam head-to-head is in favor of Nadal with an 11-7 margin. In the Indian Wells final ceremony back in 2011, that Djokovic called Nadal, the greatest of all time. Djokovic’s respect for Nadal still stays the same even though Djokovic has an edge on the Grand Slam titles now.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (Image via: Sports Illustrated)

Talking about how the Spaniard helped him to be a better player, Djokovic said, “I’ve seen that his comments went viral, that many people spoke about it. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, how he interprets someone else in a certain context etc. That’s all I can say”.

“Rafa is a great champion and I respect and appreciate him as such – as a great champion, my biggest rival and as a player who contributed to shaping my game and to results I’ve accomplished,” the Serb added further.

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