Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal arrives Down Under

Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal sent fans into a frenzy after he posted a picture of him on the centre court of the Australian Open, thus allaying all fears and concerns over the Spanish maestro not taking part in the first Grand Slam of the year. Follow Australian Open live updates on InsideSport.IN

Nadal’s chances of playing down under were thrown into jeopardy earlier this month, after the tennis great tested positive for COVID-19 after competing in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

Also read: Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic ‘trying’ to get to Australian Open, say Serbia teammates

However it seems this hasn’t hindered any plans to compete in the Australian Open, after booking in to play an ATP 250 event in Melbourne in preparation for the opening Grand Slam of the year.

🤫 Don’t tell anyone…
… here I am 😉 pic.twitter.com/x1F2BJnH3y

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) December 31, 2021

There were real fears that the sport’s big three – Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer – were all set to miss the event.

Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal finally arrives Down Under, all set for first Grand Slam of the year, check details

This came after Federer ruled himself out through injury, whilst Djokovic’s chances of competing remain unknown after refusing to reveal his COVID-19 vaccination status.

Further fears for tournament organisers then grew following Nadal’s positive case, however all those fears have been put to rest and for now at least one of tennis’ headline acts will be in Melbourne come the 17th of January.

Australian Open chief executive Craig Tiley had revealed that he was ‘confident’ the Spaniard would be making the trip to Melbourne earlier this week.

And the 35-year-old was spotted training at his academy in Mallorca on Wednesday, indicating he will be fit for his trip Down Under.

Injury once again blighted Nadal’s season last term, as the 20-time Grand Slam winner has not featured in a competitive event since the ATP Washington in August of this year.

Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal finally arrives Down Under, all set for first Grand Slam of the year, check details

Despite this the Spaniard feels he is still more than capable of competing at the highest level – where he has been dominant for so many years – as he eyes a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam victory before he bows out from the court.

Speaking after his exhibition event in Abu Dhabi this month he admitted that as long as he feels he is still able to compete at the highest level, he will carry on playing – despite recent rumours of a possible retirement.

“I still believe that I will be competitive enough to give myself chances to compete for the things that I have been competing for the last 15 years. If not, personally, it doesn’t make sense (to continue).

“I am not playing at all for money or just for fun; I am playing to keep achieving goals or at least to enjoy the process to try to achieve my goals. If then you don’t achieve, it’s fine, but the motivation and the passion are still there,” Rafael Nadal had said.

Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal finally arrives Down Under, all set for first Grand Slam of the year, check details

Tennis