Nadal will make his return to the tennis circuit at the Brisbane tournament – News of Brazil
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Former world number one in tennis Rafael Nadal will return to play at the Brisbane International, a preparatory event for the Australian Open in January, the Spaniard said this Friday (1st).
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has not played a competitive match since bowing out in the second round of this year’s Australian Open when he was hampered by a hip problem.
Nadal was initially expected to be out of action for just eight weeks, but he underwent hip surgery in June.
“After a year away from competition, it’s time to return,” said Nadal, who won the Australian Open in 2009 and 2022, in a video posted on social media. “It will be in Brisbane, in the first week of January. See you there.”
Last month, Australian Open director Craig Tiley confirmed that Nadal would participate in the first Grand Slam of the year.
Nadal has said he hopes to retire after the 2024 season after a series of injuries limited his tour appearances.
He fell out of the top 100 for the first time in 20 years this season and dropped to world number 633, but is entitled to a protected ranking having been injured and not competing in any event for at least six months.
Nadal has previously expressed a desire to play another French Open and represent Spain at the Paris Olympics next year before retiring at the end of his 23rd season on the tour.
The Brisbane tournament, which is returning after a three-year hiatus initially forced by the Covid-19 pandemic, will be held from December 31 to January 7.
The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park from January 14-28.
Source: Reuters
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