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Australian Open officials are supremely optimistic that two of tennis\u2019 biggest drawcards, Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal, will be fit for the first major of 2024 despite barely playing this year.<\/p>\n
Kyrgios, 28, and Nadal, 37, both had surgery this year and their rankings have ballooned out due to time off the circuit.<\/p>\n
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Nick Kyrgios has played only one match on tour in 2023.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n In Kyrgios\u2019 case, Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said he \u201cfully expect[s] him to be here and ready to play\u201d despite the knee injury thathas been career-threatening in the case of some athletes.<\/p>\n The Canberran world No.470 withdrew on the eve of last January\u2019s Open in a doomsday scenario for organisers. Not long after he booked in for knee surgery to have the small tear in his left lateral meniscus repaired but has played just one match on the ATP Tour this year, in Germany in June.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one great thing about Nick is that he\u2019s very transparent and very open about how he\u2019s feeling and what he thinks,\u201d said Tiley.<\/p>\n \u201cI personally believe in the communication that he\u2019s very motivated to come back and play in January.<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves playing here … he knows everyone wants him to play. It\u2019s just a matter of his health. He\u2019s had a significant injury.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s … in the process of still getting over that … [but] I fully expect him to be here and ready to play.\u201d<\/p>\n Similarly, officials are confident world No.240 Nadal will be fit in Melbourne in January amid conjecture that the Spaniard\u2019s time at the top was coming to an end with a potential farewell at the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n A winner of 22 grand slam titles including a heroic charge to the 2022 Australian Open title, Nadal has not featured on the circuit since a second-round exit at Melbourne Park nine months ago.<\/p>\n Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal is in line for a January return at the Australian Open.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Nadal aggravated his hip flexor in the Australian Open defeat. He had surgery on a hip muscle in June and was expected to be sidelined for about five months.<\/p>\n But Tiley confirmed that the Spanish legend was planning to play in Melbourne.<\/p>\n \u201cI called him,\u201d Tiley said about his recent communication with the legendary Spaniard.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stay in touch. We stay in touch with [all] the teams … if you follow [him]on social, and watch him closely, there\u2019s shots of him hitting … you always get your hopes up because you want people like Rafa to be here.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is in particular someone who loves Australia, loves playing here. There\u2019s obviously a bit of time between now and January. If he stays healthy that\u2019s important, but so far, the signs have been really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Nadal had not flagged that January\u2019s event would be his farewell to Australia, Tiley confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he does make the announcement that it\u2019s his last, which I don\u2019t think he will … then definitely we\u2019ll have a big celebration.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not going to come to the event unless he thinks he can win it. That I know about Rafa. He\u2019s not going to show up just to play.\u201d<\/p>\n The scoreboard shows the match time of five hours and 45 minutes after Andy Murray\u2019s five-set win over Thanasi Kokkinakis at this year\u2019s Australian Open.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Next year\u2019s major is also poised to feature the return to the elite game after maternity leave for players including former champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber.<\/p>\n Organisers, however, can\u2019t guarantee that a scheduling overhaul will mean late-night finishes are a thing of the past.<\/p>\n As part of the move to turn January\u2019s tournament into a 15-day event \u2013 starting on a Sunday instead of the following day \u2013 day sessions on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena will start at 12pm. There will be only two matches scheduled for the day sessions on those courts, drastically reducing the chance of night sessions being delayed.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Australian Open, in which Novak Djokovic won the men\u2019s singles title for a 10th time, had an extraordinarily late finish to the second-round clash between Andy Murray and Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. It finished at 4.05am, the third-latest recorded finish in the history of professional tennis.<\/p>\n While Tennis Australia says the reduction of matches for day sessions on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena \u2013 three matches down to two \u2013 was partly made based on feedback from patrons who said they didn\u2019t have enough time to enjoy the entire Melbourne Park precinct, tournament officials welcomed the scheduling flexibility.<\/p>\n First round men\u2019s and women\u2019s singles matches will be spread across the first three days of the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cThe decision we made on going a day earlier gave us a better opportunity to spread the first round. That\u2019s where the pressure comes,\u201d said Tiley.<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing we cannot control is how long players take to play a match. Some take much longer than others. We\u2019ve given ourselves a much better chance not to have late finishes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe key is to not start the night session late. By having an extra day [of the tournament] … that will certainly help it, but I can\u2019t guarantee [there won\u2019t be late finishes].\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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