Rafael Nadal Aims for Australian Open Comeback
Locker Room
October 11, 2023
Rafael Nadal is aiming to play in the 2024 Australian Open, just as we told you a few days ago.
His latest training efforts are consistent with his “farewell tour” master plan for the New Year.
Nadal wants the opportunity to wave goodbye to all four Grand Slam venues as an active player.
Rafael Nadal plans to play Wimbledon 2024 – and that’s great news for tennis fans.
The All England Club has been the scene for some of Rafa’s greatest triumphs – including arguably the greatest Wimbledon final of them all – his epic victory over Roger Federer in 2008.
Although the Spaniard suspects deep down that further Grand Slam glory may remain beyond him, he wants to go down fighting at each and every major.
On October 5, we explained how Wimbledon 2024 will provide a fond grass court farewell for the remaining Big Three – Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
We wrote: ‘Meanwhile the great Rafael Nadal sees the New Year as his big opportunity to embark on a farewell tour of the Grand Slam venues.’
Wimbledon 2024 will be high on Rafael Nadal’s list of priorities.
The first major venue on the 2024 calendar is of course the Australian Open in Melbourne – the “fun slam” that’s number one on Rafa’s list of four.
And Down Under, Aussie Open tournament organiser Craig Tiley claimed: ‘We can reveal exclusively that Rafa will be back. He’s been off for most of the year. But in talking to him the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about. That’s awesome.’
Rafa replied: ‘I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open. I am practising every day and working hard to come back asap.’
Nadal’s camp also responded slightly more cautiously too. They want to take the pressure off their superstar – just in case he suffers any minor setback before Australia.
A spokesperson said: ‘We have definitely not released any date because we simply don’t know it. Rafa is just starting to practise.’
But it’s hard to believe that Nadal hasn’t expressed private confidence to Tiley that he will be ready for the first Grand Slam of the year – even though his words must have fallen short of a cast-iron guarantee.
He’s already hitting and it’s only October. That must mean the signs are extremely good.
The encouraging news won’t come as any surprise to regular readers of our insightful WDH blogs. And we all crave the return of the great warrior of our sport.
But Nadal isn’t the only huge box office draw planning to thrill the fans early in the New Year. Tiley added: ‘And we know Nick Kyrgios has been in training, so we expect to see him back.’
Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios have provided us with some truly thrilling matches at Wimbledon in the past.
Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios, duking it out toe to toe – one last time at Wimbledon 2024. Just think how awesome that could be!
Add legends Djokovic and Murray. Then sprinkle the stardust of young American sensations Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton. Stir it all up with the phenomenal talent of Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz. And there you have a tennis delight that might never be seen again in London.
Come to Wimbledon 2024 – the now-or-never Championships. It’s where the big stars will say goodbye -and the young hot-shots could make further history.