Rafael Nadal has announced when he will make his comeback after a year out injured.
The 22-time grand slam tennis champion has not played a competitive match since suffering a hip injury during his second-round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January.
Having initially hoped the lay-off may only be for a few weeks, Nadal admitted in May that he was staring at the end of his career and that he hoped to be able to play a final year on tour in 2024.
He had surgery in June and has been gradually building up to a return that he has now announced will be at the Brisbane International, a key warm-up event for the Australian Open, beginning on New Year’s Eve.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, Nadal said: “After a year away from competition, it’s time to come back. It will be in Brisbane the first week of January. I’ll see you there.”
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The 37-year-old tennis great is currently ranked 663 in the world having seen his 18-year stay in the top 10 end in March.
Brisbane will also mark the return of Naomi Osaka, the 26-year-old four-time grand slam winner, following the birth of her first child in July.
