Why is Rafael Nadal not playing at the Australian Open 2024?

Rafael Nadal will not compete at the Australian Open The Spaniard will be dearly missed this year Mail Sport explains why Nadal is out of the tournament 

The Australian Open got underway on Sunday but one big name was nowhere to be seen.

The curtain-raiser for an action-packed season of tennis, Novak Djokovic is hoping to win the title Down Under for a record-extending 11th time, with a host of young rivals looking to dethrone the all-conquering champion.

Rafael Nadal, however, won’t be challenging the Serbian for his crown this time around.

Mail Sport explains why Nadal does not feature in Melbourne, and what it could mean for his tennis future.

Rafael Nadal will not compete at this year’s Australian Open

Why is Rafael Nadal not playing at the Australian Open?

The Spanish hero, 37, was aiming to make a huge return to the court this month, having been sidelined for much of 2023 with a career-threatening hip injury.

And all the signs were positive when he competed at the Brisbane International, a warm-up tournament ahead of the first major of the year.

Nadal beat former US Open champion Dominic Thiem before dispatching of Jason Kubler in Queensland.

But his defeat against hometown hero Jordan Thompson was a heartbreaking one for Nadal, with ‘a small problem’ causing the Spaniard to withdraw from the Australian Open.

Nadal insisted that a scan showed the injury was not a long-term issue, in a sign of ‘good news’ for fans, but he was ‘not ready to compete’ for the duration of a five-set match.

The 37-year-old was forced to withdraw after injuring himself in Brisbane

When will Nadal return?

Fans are hopeful that Nadal can return for the French Open, a tournament he has dominated since hia competition debut almost 20 years ago.

He has long ear-marked 2024 as his swansong season, with the Spaniard eager to wave goodbye to all corners of the world following his illustrious career.

He will, then, be desperate to feature in Rolland Garros, where he has won the French Open a stunning 14 times.

As for the Australian Open, tournament director Craig Tiley has not yet ruled out the possibility of Nadal playing at Melbourne Park in 2025.

‘I’m absolutely planning on seeing him next year,’ Tiley said when asked whether Nadal may not return to the Open.

‘I’m planning on seeing him tonight for a private catch-up, which we always do, before he leaves town in the next few days and then I’ll ask him that same question.

Tournament director Craig Tiley hopes Nadal will return to Melbourne in 2025

‘But there’s no question that I think that Rafa’s the kind of player that as long as he’s fit and he feels like he’s healthy and he can play, he’ll be out there playing.

‘He loves to play and of course we would love to have him back in Melbourne under any circumstance – whether he’s playing or whatever else he’s doing.’

Australian Open full schedule

• Sunday, January 14: Men’s and women’s first round singles
• Monday, January 15: Men’s and women’s first round singles
• Tuesday, January 16: Men’s and women’s first round singles
• Wednesday, January 17: Men’s and women’s second round singles
• Thursday, January 18: Men’s and women’s second round singles
• Friday, January 19: Men’s and women’s third round singles
• Saturday, January 20: Men’s and women’s third round singles
• Sunday, January 21: Men’s and women’s fourth round singles
• Monday, January 22: Men’s and women’s fourth round singles
• Tuesday, January 23: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals
• Wednesday, January 24: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals
• Thursday, January 25: Women’s singles semi-finals
• Friday, January 26: Men’s singles semi-finals
• Saturday, January 27: Women’s singles final, men’s doubles final
• Sunday, January 28: Men’s singles final, women’s doubles final

How to watch on TV

Australian viewers will be able to watch the tournament on free-to-air TV, with Channel 9 broadcasting all of the coverage in Melbourne.

Tennis fans in the US can watch the action on ESPN, while UK viewers will be able to watch the likes of Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray on Eurosport.

Nick Kyrgios, who is missing the tournament through injury, will also feature on Eurosport’s coverage.

The 28-year-old’s insight stunned fans during Novak Djokovic’s first round match against Dino Prizmic, while Eurosport are offering a unique live stream ‘In the Booth with Nick Kyrgios’, on Discovery+.