The head of the Australian Open has implied that he will help facilitate Rafael Nadal’s return to the tournament next year if he wishes to play.
Craig Tiley has claimed during an interview with The Age newspaper that he is ‘absolutely planning‘ to see the former world No.1 at Melbourne Park in 2025. Nadal has withdrawn from this year’s tournament due to a muscle injury he picked up whilst playing at the Brisbane International in what was his first tournament in almost a year due to a hip problem. In Brisbane, he beat Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler before losing to Jordan Thompson.
Nadal’s withdrawal from the Australian Open has raised questions about if the 37-year-old would play at the tournament again. He has previously admitted that this season might be the last of his career depending on how his body holds up over the coming months.
Nevertheless, Tiley is maintaining an upbeat outlook on the chances of Nadal returning to his event with the official saying he is willing to help enable his return if needed. The most likely way he can do so would be via a wildcard if the Spaniard can no longer use his protected ranking status and is not ranked high enough to enter the 2025 main draw.
“I’m absolutely planning on seeing him next year,” Tiley said.
“I’m planning to see him tonight [Monday] for a private catch-up, as we always do before he leaves town in the next few days, and I’ll ask him that same question. But Rafa is the kind of player who, as long as he’s fit, and feels like he’s healthy, and can play, he’ll be out there playing – he loves to play.
“Of course, we would love to have him back in Melbourne, under any circumstance, whether he’s playing or whatever else he’s doing … we will provide him every opportunity to come back and play.”
Nadal made his debut at the Australian Open in 2004 when he reached the third round. He has won the title twice in 2009 and 2022, as well as finishing runner-up on four other occasions. Overall, he has won 77 out of 93 matches played which is a win rate of 83%.
“To win the Australian Open, you’ve got to play seven [best] of five-set matches, over the two weeks, so I think he thought that he wouldn’t be able to withstand that,” Tiley commented on Nadal’s withdrawal. “Rafa being the kind of player [he is]; he’s not going to enter an event unless he knows he is 100 per cent fit to win it.”
Nadal is yet to confirm which event he will play next but has stated that his goal is to return to full fitness within the next three months in time for the clay swing.
The Australian Open will get underway on Sunday.
