After almost 12 months on the sidelines, Rafael Nadal will make an eagerly-awaited return to professional tennis.
The Spanish superstar confirmed on social media he would come back at the Brisbane International, boosting an already-stellar field at the season-opening event.
Nadal sustained a left hip injury during his second-round loss at Australian Open 2023, which later required surgery.
He has not played since.
Prior to his surgery in June, Nadal revealed he expects 2024 to be the final year of his storied career.
The 37-year-old, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, said in a video posted to social media that he felt it was “the right moment to be back”.
“After one year outside of the tour … I feel ready to announce that I will be back in Brisbane, the first week of the season,” he said.
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Tournament Director Cam Pearson was thrilled the former world No.1 had chosen the Brisbane International as the site of his long-awaited comeback.
“We know how hard Rafa has been working to get back playing," Pearson said, "so to see him out on court for the first time in 12 months here in Brisbane will be very special.”
Nadal’s return is the latest exciting storyline in what is shaping up to be a bumper Australian summer of tennis in 2024.
Osaka’s return booked for Brisbane
Another superstar comeback to play out in Brisbane is that of Naomi Osaka.
The four-time major champion will return to the tour after giving birth to daughter Shai in July, taking her place among a stacked field at the WTA 500 event.
Also headed to Brisbane are reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina and two-time AO champion Victoria Azarenka.
Nadal, who will play in Brisbane for the first time since 2017, joins long-time rivals Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov, plus rising stars Holger Rune and Ben Shelton, in the men’s field.
The Brisbane International returns to the tennis calendar for the first time since 2020 and kicks off on 31 December.
United Cup line-up set
Two days earlier, the second edition of the United Cup begins in Perth, with group-action commencing the next day in Sydney.
Perth will welcome three world No.1s – Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and new doubles No.1 Storm Hunter – to RAC Arena, while Sydney hosts second seeds Greece, led by top-10 stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari.
Greece is one of three teams with its top WTA and ATP players both ranked inside the top 10; the others are Poland (Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz) and United States (Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz).
Team USA, the defending champions, have landed in stacked group with hosts Australia – led by top Aussie singles player Alex de Minaur – and Great Britain.
Another comeback was assured when Angelique Kerber signed on to represent Team Germany.
Kerber, who welcomed daughter Liana into the world in February, will be joined in Sydney by Team Canada, headlined by exciting duo Felix Auger Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez.
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Brazil and Chile completed the 18-team line-up in late November, meaning South American stars Beatriz Haddad Maia and Nicolas Jarry are also headed to the United Cup.
Adelaide International to welcome stars
After playing in Brisbane, world No.4 Rybakina will head to the Adelaide International, where she was a finalist in 2022.
The second straight WTA 500 event on the calendar will also feature emerging Chinese star Zheng Qinwen and former world No.4 Caroline Garcia, who will also represent China and France respectively at the United Cup.
Kerber will continue her comeback in Adelaide, as will Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who missed most of this season with a knee injury but ended it encouragingly with a WTA 125 title in Brazil.
A quartet of rising ATP talents – Sebastian Korda, Alexei Popyrin, Lorenzo Musetti and Jack Draper – are also bound for Adelaide, where they will join home-town hero Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kokkinakis memorably won his first ATP title at The Drive in 2022.
The Adelaide International, under the guidance of new tournament director Alicia Molik, will take place from 8-13 January.
Hobart hosts American stars
Defending champion Lauren Davis and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens will contest the Hobart International, staged in the same week as Adelaide.
The WTA 250 event has a history of impressive winners, many of whom have gone on to win Grand Slam titles.
Hobart will also play out the same week as Australian Open qualifying as the build-up to the year’s first Grand Slam event continues.
It is one of six tournaments forming part of the thrilling Australian summer of tennis for 2024.