At the Queensland Tennis Center in Brisbane, a notable moment unfolds this Tuesday, January 2, 2024, as Rafael Nadal returns to competitive tennis after a long layoff. It marks his 1,289th match appearance on tour, the longest absence in his professional career. After almost a full year away since his second-round match at the Australian Open on January 18, 2023, Nadal steps back onto the court to team up with his longtime friend and current coach Marc Lopez in a doubles contest against Australian duo Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.
Nadal drew applause in Brisbane, with a simple sentiment echoing through the crowd: making the comeback itself is a victory.
In his own words, Nadal outlined a careful return. He emphasized that winning tournaments right away is not the goal, but being able to compete at the highest level again remains a possibility. The return, he noted, will require patience, focus, and a steady build toward peak form.
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— Teledeporte
The 22-time Grand Slam champion publicly shared his optimism after his psoas injury and hip surgery, explaining that his comeback aims to compete at the highest level, potentially in what could be his final season.
For Nadal, simply being on the court is a victory; the priority is to enjoy the fight.
The comeback is expected to be his most challenging test yet. Early in his return, expectations were tempered. Nadal acknowledged that he has not played in a year and that goals will be adjusted. He remained clear that his main aim is to feel good, enjoy the struggle, and show competitive spirit rather than chase immediate titles as Brisbane opens his schedule for this phase of the season.
THIS IS IT!
Nadal’s comeback bracket for Brisbane includes a qualifying round, followed by a main draw that features potential clashes with strong names as the event unfolds:
R1 – Qualifier; R2 – Karatsev or Kubler; QF – Humbert or Thompson; SF – Dimitrov, Etcheverry, or Murray; F – Rune, Shelton, Korda or Baez.
— Olly
Nadal’s absence from the tour has had him drop to world number 672. It is a ranking he last held when he first stepped onto the professional stage in 2001 at the age of 15. Yet the setbacks Nadal has faced are reminders that he has endured worse and rebounded with greater force.
2005: four months
A micronecrosis in the left foot forced a pause after a decisive Madrid Masters win and the eleventh title of that year. Medical guidance and custom insoles devised with Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro allowed him to return to competition. In early 2006, Nadal reached the Marseille semi-finals and soon captured Dubai, continuing a season that included Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, and a successful Roland Garros campaign.
2009: three months
Knee tendonitis sidelined him for a portion of the year that began with a hard-fought Australian Open victory but then a decisive defeat to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros. He missed Wimbledon and did not reappear until the Canadian Masters, later reaching the US Open semi-finals. An abdominal rupture in that period paused progress, with a tough loss to Juan Martin del Potro marking the setback.
2012: seven months
A left knee tendon tear forced Nadal to withdraw from the London Olympic Games and the remainder of that season. He returned the following year to reach the Viña del Mar final and then charged through a string of wins in titles across Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros.
2014: three months
A back issue after the Australian Open final loss to Stan Wawrinka led to a three-month layoff after Wimbledon. A late-season return in Beijing and a cautious entry into the ATP Finals followed, with wrist discomfort surfacing in 2015 and a season that saw fewer clay titles despite strong late-round showings.
2018: five months
A confluence of abdominal concerns, tendinopathy in the iliopsoas and quadriceps, and a rough start to the year in Australia marked a challenging period. Nadal nonetheless triumphed at Roland Garros, reached the Wimbledon and US Open semifinals, and closed the year with a high-profile comeback to the Australian Open final in 2019, where he finished runner-up.
2021: seven months
A left foot scaphoid injury prompted a long absence, with early losses in Australia followed by a strategic pause from Indian Wells and Miami. Nadal returned at Monte Carlo and went on to win Barcelona and Rome, making a deep run at Roland Garros before missing Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics, ultimately closing the season with resilience.
great comeback
The year 2022 saw Nadal reclaim Melbourne and capture the Australian Open title in a dramatic five-set final against Daniil Medvedev. A surge of victories followed, including a remarkable run to the French Open crown, and a string of wins that highlighted his enduring dominance on the ATP Tour.
After a shorter season the following year, Nadal entered 2023 with the desire to prove his form and longevity. The Brisbane appearance signals a careful, calculated step as he maps a possible path toward the Grand Slams that matter most in his career. The next key milestone remains January 15, when the Australian Open is set to begin, and fans will be watching closely to gauge each movement and decision.
As Nadal weighs his schedule, attention turns to the home base in Paris where he has earned multiple titles. The decision on whether Roland Garros and the Olympic Games will fit into his plan will be guided by health, pace, and performance, with the ultimate goal of competing at the level fans have come to expect from one of tennis greatest competitors.