Nadal confident he will be ‘competitive’ on return

By AFP
December 07, 2023

MADRID: Rafael Nadal on Wednesday insisted he will be “competitive” when he returns to professional tennis next month after enduring nearly a year out of action due to injury.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has undergone surgery twice in 2023 after struggling with a hip injury.

Spanish tennis player, Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning against Britain´s Jack Draper during their mens singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 16, 2023. — AFP
Spanish tennis player, Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning against Britain´s Jack Draper during their men's singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 16, 2023. — AFP

 He has said next year will likely be his last season before retirement and announced last week he would make his comeback at the Australian Open warm-up event in Brisbane, which runs from January 1-7.