Rafael Nadal to Make Grand Slam Tennis Comeback at 2024 Australian Open

In the latest update as of 11th October 2023, it has been confirmed by tournament chief Craig Tiley that Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, will make his long-anticipated return to Grand Slam tennis at the 2024 Australian Open. This announcement comes after Nadal underwent hip surgery and has been sidelined from the sport since January.

Rafael Nadal, who is 37 years old, has been on the tennis sidelines due to an injury sustained during the Australian Open earlier this year, where he suffered a hip flexor injury during a second-round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald. His absence from the French Open, a tournament where he has a remarkable record of 14 major titles, marked the first time in 19 years that Nadal was not part of the event. It was during this period that Nadal made a significant statement about his future, expressing his intention to retire at the end of the 2024 season.

Craig Tiley, the tournament chief, shared this exciting news by saying, “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, the champion of 2022. That’s awesome.”

Despite the optimism surrounding Nadal’s return to tennis, it is still too early to confirm whether he will be present in Melbourne for the 2024 Australian Open. Benito Perez-Barbadillo, Nadal’s representative, confirmed that Nadal has resumed practicing, but as of now, no specific date has been set for his official comeback to the competitive circuit.

Rafael Nadal, a two-time Australian Open champion, most recently secured a Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in 2022. However, since then, Novak Djokovic has extended his lead in the men’s Grand Slam title count to 24.

In addition to Nadal’s expected comeback, former women’s champions Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Caroline Wozniacki are also planning their returns to professional tennis after maternity breaks. Tiley expressed his enthusiasm for 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.”

It’s worth noting that past predictions about players’ returns, such as Serena Williams in 2018, have not always come to fruition. Despite earlier statements about Serena’s readiness to feature at the 2018 tournament, she did not participate.

In a bid to address late-night matches at Melbourne Park, the Australian Open will become a 15-day event for the first time in 2024. This change is aimed at improving the overall experience for both players and fans. The 2023 Australian Open saw Novak Djokovic secure his 10th title, extending his remarkable success, while Aryna Sabalenka celebrated her first Grand Slam singles title.