Rafael Nadal, despite difficulties, determined to participate in the Australian Open

Tennis great Rafael Nadal is set to play the Australian Open in 2024, marking his return to the sport after a year off due to injuries.

Nadal has not played on tour since being troubled by a hip injury in a second-round defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald, world No. 65, at this year’s Australian Open.

But tournament director Craig Tiley confirmed to Channel Nine that the 37-year-old is set to return to Melbourne Park in 2024, despite his current ranking of 240th in the world.

“He’s been out for most of the year and speaking to him over the last few days he’s confirmed he’ll be back, which we’re really excited about,” Tiley said on The Today Show.

The news comes just weeks after Nadal provided an update on his struggles, which also include a degenerative condition called Muller-Weiss syndrome that affects the bones in his feet.

“(The pain has not disappeared) but it is now controllable,” Nadal told Spanish broadcaster Movistar.

Nadal won the 2022 Australian and French Open titles to become the most prolific men’s major winner with 22 singles titles, but his rival Novak Djokovic has since won four slams to move to 24, eclipsing Serena Williams to the greatest number in the Open era.

As retirement rumors swirled around the oft-injured Spaniard, Nadal said he wanted to come back and be “competitive” but acknowledged adding to his major record was still a long way off.