![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/5005932.jpg?r=1697018996291\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Rafael Nadal’s team have denied suggestions from Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley that the Spaniard “will be back” for the Australian Open next year. It was in Melbourne Park earlier this year where Nadal played his last match on tour as he suffered another injury setback.<\/p>\n
The 22-time Grand Slam champion made the shock announcement a few months later that 2024 will likely be his last on the ATP Tour. How many more tournaments Nadal will be able to play remains to be seen, but Tiley increased anticipation of the Spaniard returning in time for next year’s Australian Open.<\/p>\n
The Tennis Australia boss claimed Nadal “confirmed he will be back” in a bold statement that has now been rebuked by the icon’s own team. Nadal’s spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo said: \u201cWe have seen the reports and comments but as of today we wouldn\u2019t be able to confirm.<\/p>\n
“Definitely we don\u2019t know yet. Too early to say. We have definitely not released any date cause we simply don\u2019t know it. Rafa is just starting to practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/5005935.jpg?r=1697019000727\")
<\/p>\n
It was only in June that Nadal revealed that he had undergone surgery on his troublesome hip. He said: “Everything went well and the arthroscopy was on the left psoas tendon that has kept me out of competition since January,” wrote Nadal in Spanish on social media on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“An old injury to the labrum of my left hip was also [fixed] which will surely help the better evolution of the tendon. I want to thank doctors Marc Philippon, Jaume Vilaro and Angel Ruiz-Cotorro for their work.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n “I will start progressive functional rehabilitation immediately and the normal recovery process they tell me is 5 months, if all goes well.”<\/p>\n The rehabilitation process appears to be going to plan with Nadal already back on the tennis courts. Nadal took to social media earlier this month to post a clip of him hitting balls on a tennis court for the first time since before his operation.<\/p>\n It was originally hoped that Nadal would potentially eye the Davis Cup Finals at the end of November as his targeted return. But Spain were unable to make it out of the group stage after Carlos Alcaraz skipped the group stages in Valencia in a devastating blow. The Finals will be held in Malaga.<\/p>\n
Nadal’s doctor discusses ‘difficult situation’ as Spaniard prepares for farewell[LATEST] <\/strong>
Max Verstappen gets Rafa Nadal comparison as salt rubbed into Hamilton’s wounds[LATEST] <\/strong>
Rafael Nadal fuels excitement ahead of scheduled 2024 comeback as video surfaces[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n