- Spaniard to play in Brisbane International after hip surgery
- 22-time slam champion ranked No 672 in world after year out
Rafael Nadal has attempted to play down his “impossible” Australian Open title hopes in what shapes as the first stop on his 2024 farewell world tour. But for the 37-year-old Spaniard, who is set to return at the Brisbane International after almost a year out with injury, Australia is a place where the impossible happens.
The 22-time major champion’s last match was a round-two loss at the Australian Open in January earlier this year, with Nadal eventually opting for surgery to fix his troublesome hip in June.