Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal Set to Return to Tennis for Australian Open, Tournament Director Says.Photo:Carmen Mandato/Getty; Cameron Spencer/Getty
Carmen Mandato/Getty; Cameron Spencer/Getty
The 2024 Australian Open is set to serve some major star power.
On Tuesday, the tournament announced on social media that tennis starNaomi Osaka, who won the tournament in 2019 and 2021, will compete in the 2024 edition, which begins January 14. Former Australian Open champions,Caroline Wozniackiand Angelique Kerber, are set to play as well.
And during an interview on Australia’sToday Show,the tournament’s director Craig Tiley saidRafael Nadalplans to compete in January as well. “We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back,” Tiley said, according to CNN.
Tiley explained that Nadal, 37, has been “off for most of the year” after a hip injury plagued him during this year’s tournament. In January, Nadal fell to Mackenzie McDonald at the 2023 Australian Open and then laterwithdrew from the French Openand the rest of the 2023 tournaments.
Tiley said, “He’s been off for most of the year and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about, the champion of 2022. That’s awesome.”
Nadal confirmed his interest in the tournament in a post on X, formerly Twitter, but the decorated tennis champion did not say his availability in the January tournament is for certain. “I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open… I am practising every day and working hard to come back asap,” Nadalwrotein his post.
In May, the athlete told fans onInstagramthat his recovery process was taking longer than expected after he was injured in Australia in January, leading to his withdrawal from May’s French Open. “Initially it had to be a six to eight week recovery period and we’re on to number fourteen,” he explained in the post, which was originally written in Spanish.
Nadal said the “reality” of the situation was not what he and his medical team “had hoped for,” despite following all medical directions. “We find ourselves in a situation that is difficult,” he added.
Spanish Rafael Nadal pictured at a men’s singles second round game between Spanish Nadal (ATP 2) and US Mc Donald (ATP 63) at the ‘Australian Open’.PATRICK HAMILTON/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Osaka, 25, has been taking time away from the sport after welcoming her first child, daughter Shai, withCordaein Los Angeles.
Naomi Osaka.Sarah Stier/Getty
The former World No. 1 hasn’t played tennis since last September’s Toray Pan Pacific Open when she announced she was stepping away from the game during her pregnancy.
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In anESPNinterview last month, Osaka opened up about feeling “lonely” during her pregnancy. “I realized that I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me,” she said. “I don’t know the level of play, and I think I have to ease into it. At the very least, I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”
The Australian Open begins Jan. 14 and runs through the 28th.
source: people.com
