Rafael Nadal plans long-awaited return in Brisbane

Field Level Media|published: Fri 1st December, 11:02 2023

Rafael Nadal waives to the crowd before his match against Borna Coric in the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. credits: Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rafael Nadal will return to play at the Brisbane International, an Australian Open warmup, he said Friday.

"Hello everyone. After a year away from competition, it's time to come back," Nadal said in Spanish in a video posted to social media. "It will be in Brisbane the first week of January. I'll see you there."

The Brisbane tournament runs from Dec. 31-Jan. 7.

Nadal played in just two tournaments in 2023 and missed the rest of the season after suffering a left-hip flexor injury in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open. Nadal underwent arthroscopic surgery in June and said at the time he'd need five months to recover.

Tournament director Craig Tiley announced in October that Nadal would play in the Australian Open, which is scheduled for Jan. 14-18.

An appearance at the Australian Open likely would be Nadal's last. The 37-year-old Spaniard said in May he plans to retire following the 2024 season.

He won in Melbourne in 2009 and 2022, two of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

The Brisbane tournament is an ATP 250 event. Also expected to play is another former world No. 1, Andy Murray.

—Field Level Media

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