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Tennis Australian Open

Rafael Nadal confirms January return in Brisbane after a year out with injury - 'Right moment to be back'

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 01/12/2023 at 12:57 GMT

Rafael Nadal's return to tennis is finally set. The Spaniard has had an annus horribilis in 2023, losing in the second round of the Australian Open last January, and then spending the rest of the year in rehabilitation. But his comeback will now be in Brisbane, as he likely gears up for another appearance in Melbourne. Stream and watch the 2024 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+.

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Rafael Nadal has revealed that he will make his comeback to tennis in January in Brisbane, Australia.

The Spaniard has been out of action since January this year with injury.

In a post on social media, Nadal said: “After one year outside of the tour, I think it is the right moment to be back.

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"So I feel ready to announce that I will be back in Brisbane in the first week of the season.”

This is a landmark moment in Nadal's recovery from a hip issue, and will play his first match since being stunned by Mackenzie McDonald in a surprise second-round exit in this year's Australian Open.

Nadal looks set to appear at the ATP 250 event beginning on December 31, boosting hopes that the 22-time Grand Slam champion will return at the Australian Open.

The Spaniard fuelled that excitement further by talking about the positive steps being made in his comeback, ahead of confirming his participation in Brisbane.

“Until now, I didn’t know if I would ever play tennis again and now I think so. What has changed from a few weeks ago to now is that now I know that I am going to play tennis again.

“I didn’t know it before, but now, honestly, I know it because the evolution is positive. Big steps have been taken lately. I’m not yet ready to say where. When I know, I will be the first to say it. It’s a good period of my life. It’s a step forward, without a doubt, and it means a lot.”

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Nadal's last win was against Jack Draper in this year's Australian Open, leaving him slumped down in 663rd in the ATP men's rankings.

With that in mind, legendary coach Rick Macci has questioned the impact that Nadal can make upon his return, and feels it may be optimistic to expect the Spaniard to win another Grand Slam.

“I wish Rafa all the best, but he’s not at the exact same level he was before so I don’t think he’s a contender to win a Slam," he told Tennis Infinity.

"I think he can be competitive and I think he’s a rough out for anybody on clay, but it depends on his health.”

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