Australian Open CEO ‘certain’ Rafael Nadal will compete at tournament
Australian Open Chief Executive Craig Tiley has revealed that he is ‘certain’ Rafael Nadal will be present at the tournament next year, however he seems less confident about Nick Kyrgios.
Nadal has been out of action since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Melbourne major last year, where he picked up a tear in his psoas.
After undergoing arthroscopic surgery back in June, Nadal has been focussing on recovery for what he has admitted could be the final season of his career next year.
And Nadal, who is now ranked No.662, told the ATP Tour last month that his training has picked up, āIām well, training, and happy. Iām at a good stage of my life.
āUntil now I didnāt know if I would play tennis again someday, and now I genuinely believe I will. Iām still not ready to say when, but Iām able to train increasingly longer, and the progress is good.”
Australian Open CEO Tiley had previously ‘announced’ Nadal’s participation, but the two-time champion quickly shut those rumours down.
I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Openā¦ I am practising every day and working hard to come back asap ???
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) October 11, 2023
However, Tiley has since told Reuters News that he has been in close contact with Nadal and is very confident, despite his premature announcement, āRafa has been training, I follow him closely, probably every day because heās a massive drawcard for us.
āHe wants to play, heās obviously planning on playing. It all depends on how he pulls up. Hopefully in the next week or the next two weeks, we get some specific confirmation of that. Iām certain Rafa will be here because heās not going to want to miss the opportunity to repeat what he did a couple of years ago.ā
Kyrgios is another player who has missed the majority of the 2023 season through injury, having played only one competitive match.
The Aussie underwent knee surgery in January and tore a ligament in his wrist prior to Wimbledon, and as a result has fallen off the ATP rankings entirely.
Tiley confessed that Kyrgios is working to return at the Australian Open, but suggested that the 2022 Wimbledon finalist could be doing something else at the tournament.
āWe have spoken to Nick, and he obviously wants to do the best he possibly can to give him the best chance to play in January,ā said Tiley.
He added, āWhether heās playing, whether heās doing something else, Nick will be here in January and to get him to play will be great. But weāve got to take it as it comes and heās got to make sure he takes care of his health.ā
Kyrgios recently began his commentary career for Tennis Channel at the ATP Finals, and it is unclear as to whether he will be continuing this at the Australian Open that begins on Sunday 14th January.
Kygs is here!! ?@NickKyrgios gives an update on his injury, reviews the 2023 ATP season and gives a prediction for Zverev-Medvedev!#ATPFinals pic.twitter.com/8E5WPyvTLW
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 15, 2023
Inside the baseline…
All the signs about Rafael Nadal seem positive at the moment, however the Spaniard seems to be staying tight-lipped until he knows of any definite confirmations for his return date. In terms of Nick Kyrgios, he has revealed that he is working to return but until the entry list for the Australian Open is announced it all seems very unclear at the moment.
READ NEXT: Rafael Nadal can return to āthe highest level,ā claims Carlos Alcaraz coach
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