Former world No.1 Rafa Nadal will return to tennis on the Brisbane Worldwide forward of the Australian Open in January, the Spaniard confirmed on Friday.
The 22-time grand slam champion has not performed a aggressive match since bowing out within the second spherical of this 12 months’s Australian Open when hampered by a hip flexor downside.
Rafael Nadal on the Australian Open in January.Credit score: Eddie Jim
Nadal was initially anticipated to overlook simply eight weeks, however underwent surgical procedure on a hip muscle in June.
“After a 12 months away from competitors, it’s time to come back again,” Nadal, who gained the Australian Open in 2009 and 2022, mentioned in a video posted to social media.
“It will likely be in Brisbane, the primary week of January. I’ll see you there.”
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Final month, Australian Open event director Craig Tiley was assured Nadal can be collaborating within the 12 months’s first grand slam.
Nadal has mentioned he expects to retire after the 2024 season, with a collection of accidents limiting his appearances on the world tour.
He dropped out of the highest 100 for the primary time in 20 years earlier within the season and has slipped to No.633 on this planet, however is eligible for a protected rating having been injured and never competing in any occasion for at the very least six months.