Rafael Nadal announces tennis return for Brisbane International in 2024

After almost a year out of the game due to injuries, former World No.1 Rafael Nadal is finally set to make his tennis return, confirming he is coming to Australia in 2024.

Rafael Nadal sent social media into a frenzy on Friday night by confirming he will return to professional tennis at the Brisbane International in January.

In a short clip posted to his various social media channels, Nadal declared the time was right to return to tennis after an extended injury lay-off.

“After one year outside of the tour, I think it’s the right moment to be back,” Nadal said.

“So I feel ready to announce that I will be back in Brisbane the first week of the season.”

The 37-year-old has not featured on the ATP Tour since losing in the second round of the Australian Open at the start of the year.

He’s back! After almost a year out of the game due to injury, Rafael Nadal is set to make his return to tennis at the Brisbane International in 2024. Picture: AFP

During the match the 22-time Grand Slam champion injured his hip.

That injury cruelled the entirety of his 2023 campaign.

His near-12 month hiatus has seen him plummet outside the top 600 in the ATP Rankings.

Earlier this year Nadal revealed the 2024 season was likely to be the last of his career.

And he has chosen the returning Brisbane International as the launching pad for what will likely be his final Australian Open campaign.

Nadal is a two-time Australian Open champion.

He joins an increasingly stacked field of superstar names who will begin their Australian swing in Brisbane.

Earlier this week Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina were confirmed for the December 31 – January 7 tournament, joining the likes of Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, Holger Rune and Grigor Dimitrov.

But Nadal now looms as the greatest attraction of all, with this one of the final times Australian tennis fans will get to see the Spanish superstar in action on our courts.