Rafael Nadal stuns the tennis world with huge announcement on his future in the

• Spanish great has been out of action all year due to injury 
• Led to speculation he could be about to retire
• 37-year-old pulled out of Australian, French Opens 

Tennis great Rafael Nadal has put to rest rumours he would retire from the sport with the announcement that he’ll be playing in the Australian Open next January.

Tournament boss Craig Tiley broke the news on Australian television on Wednesday morning local time, thrilling fans of the 37-year-old Spanish Grand Slam legend.

‘We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back,’ Tiley told the Today show.

‘He’s been off for most of the year, and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about. That’s awesome.’

It will be Nadal’s first action on the ATP Tour since he crashed out of this year’s Australian Open while he struggled badly with a hip injury.

He withdrew from the French Open in an emotional press conference in May, with the lingering complaint also ruling him out of Wimbledon.

Nadal explained that he had not been able to train properly for months, and that he would never just make up the numbers at Roland Garros, where he has won the men’s singles title a staggering 14 times. 

It was the first time he’d missed the clay-court Grand Slam since 2004.

‘After many years playing there, you can imagine how much of a difficult decision it’s been for me,’ he said.

‘This isn’t a decision I’ve made, it’s a decision my body has made. I’m not going to be playing for the next few months.’ 

Asked about taking a break from the game, he said: ‘I’ve got to draw a line and that’s what I’m doing now. Over the next few months I’m going to strengthen my physical state and recuperate.

‘I need to put my career on hold and I’m going to try and regenerate my body. I’m not going to set a deadline – that’s going to be when I will feel ready physically.’

He pledged to come back to the sport by the end of 2023, before making the most of 2024.

‘I want to go back to all the tournaments that have been important to me in my career,’ he said, adding that he hoped to make one final farewell appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris – and naturally, Roland Garros hosts the tennis.

Nadal’s wife Maria Perello broke down in tears in the stands when he crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round.