Rafael Nadal has been tipped to make a triumphant return to action in 2024 as he prepares to make his much-anticipated comeback at the Australian Open. The legendary Spaniard has not played since the last tournament in Melbourne and underwent surgery on his hip in the summer.
The 22-time Grand Slam victor is expected to make the trip Down Under for what could be the start of a farewell tour, given his advancing years and recent fitness record. He has been consigned to the sidelines since suffering a hip injury in his Round 2 defeat against Mackenzie McDonald at Melbourne Park in January.
Although his layoff had originally only been expected to last a matter of weeks, the decision for the former world number one to go under the knife in June meant he was unable to stage a return earlier. However, after a spell of rehabilitation, the 37-year-old icon is set to first compete a the Brisbane International.
This tournament effectively serves as a warm-up contest ahead of the Australian Open, with Nadal currently sitting in 663th place in the ATP rankings after nearly a year out with injury. His near two-decade-long stint in the top 10 ended in March while he was still ruled out.
However, it appears that Nadal is in good condition as he heads towards his comeback, with Roger Federer’s old coach Ivan Ljubicic having given the latest on his progress. He had previously spoken to Arthur Fills, who had trained alongside Nadal for a week during his rehabilitation.
Ljubicic told La Gazzetta: “Nadal’s return will not be a presence of old glory. Fils, the French tennis player that I follow through the Federation, trained with him this week in Kuwait. He has written to me and told me that he is playing at a very high level. I still expect great things from Nadal.”
“It’s impossible to have the same conditions in training as in a match. Playing the best of five sets, win, rest, return to court two days later… That’s the doubt I have right now, especially for a Grand Slam. But we have time. If the Australian Open started tomorrow, it would be a real fear.
In this vein, Nadal’s own coach Carlos Moya updated the Spanish superstar’s fans on the player’s condition as he prepares to return to the court in a competitive capacity. Speaking with the ATP Tour, he admitted: “Rafa’s going to go from training, which he’s doing very well, to competing.
For Nadal, though, it is clear that enjoying the next year is his main objective, especially after a frustrating run in 2023. He admitted: “My goal and my ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year that will probably be my last year in the professional tour,
“That is my idea but I can’t say 100 per cent it will be like this, but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me. To enjoy being competitive and something that today is not possible. I believe, if I keep going now, I will not be able to make it happen.
