As footage has emerged of Rafael Nadal’s return to the practice court over the past week, his projected comeback from injury has started to acquire the feel of a blockbuster cinema release. The sense of anticipation surrounding his recovery has now heightened with news that the Spaniard is indeed coming soon – specifically, to next year’s Australian Open, according to the tournament director, Craig Tiley.
“We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back,” Tiley told the Australian broadcaster Nine. “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.”
Nadal, whose haul of 22 majors includes two Australian Open titles, has not played since January, when he tore a hip flexor muscle during a second-round defeat to Mackenzie McDonald at Melbourne Park. The 37-year-old underwent surgery on the problem in early June, shortly after announcing that he will probably retire after next season, and recently offered a guarded assessment of his future, suggesting he would not be in a position to assess his plans until mid-November.
That stance was echoed by Benito Pérez-Barbadillo, Nadal’s communications manager, who confirmed that, despite Tiley’s statement to the contrary, no date has been set for his client’s comeback.
“I can confirm to you that Rafa is practising, as everyone saw on his last post on Instagram,” Pérez-Barbadillo told Reuters. “But there is no date confirmed, scheduled or programmed yet for his comeback.”
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has responded to comments made by Nadal about their rivalry last month. In a Spanish television interview, the Spaniard suggested Djokovic would have been frustrated had he not been able to overtake him on the grand slam leaderboard. Nadal won the most recent of his 22 titles at last summer’s French Open, since when Djokovic has won a seventh Wimbledon title, a 10th Australian Open, a third French Open and a fourth US Open crown to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slams.
“For Novak, it is more intense,” Nadal told Movistar+. “To him, it would have been more frustrating not to get [the men’s record]. Maybe that’s why he’s achieved it.”
Djokovic sensibly sidestepped a potential war of words, emphasising his respect for the Spaniard while making it plain that he did not share his rival’s view.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and how they interpret someone else in that context,” said Djokovic. “That’s all I can say. Rafa is a great champion, I greatly appreciate and respect him as a champion, as my biggest rival, as a man and a tennis player who has largely participated in shaping my game and the results I have achieved.
“I have no intention in any way to talk in a negative context about him or Roger Federer, because my respect outweighs perhaps some negative opinions about them. That is his opinion – with which, of course, I do not agree. I have my opinion, but I won’t share it because I don’t want to deepen the topic. There is no need for that at all.”
Nadal aside, Tiley also predicted the return of a trio of former women’s champions at Melbourne Park, with Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki all trailed to appear. Osaka gave birth to her first daughter, Shai, in July, while Kerber announced the birth of her first child, Liana, in February. Wozniacki, meanwhile, reached the fourth round of the US Open after returning to the tour this summer for the first time in three years.
“We’ll welcome them and their families back to Melbourne with open arms,” said Tiley, “and can’t wait to see what their next chapter brings.”
The Australian Open will be held over 15 days in 024 as part of an effort to reduce the number of late finishes. The problem was epitomised by Andy Murray’s epic five-set win over Thanasi Kokkinakkis this year, which raged for five hours and 45 minutes before finally ending at 4.05am, a situation that Murray branded a “farce”. Tiley is hopeful that, by reducing the number of day matches from three to two, the new Sunday start will guarantee the evening session commences on time.
“We’ve listened to feedback from players and fans and are excited to deliver a solution to minimise late finishes while continuing to provide a fair and equitable schedule on the stadium courts,” said Tiley. “The additional day will achieve this, benefiting scheduling for fans and players alike.”