Rafael Nadal’s manager Benito-Perez Barbadillo has confirmed that the 20-time Grand Slam champion will play at the 2021 Australian Open in Melbourne from 8th February.
“Rafa has confirmed that he is travelling to Melbourne and playing at the Australian Open”, confirmed Barbadillo to The Age.
Nadal will take part at the Australian Open for the 15th time in his career. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam where Nadal has not won at least two editions.
Nadal claimed his only Australian Open trophy in 2009 beating Roger Federer in five sets. The Spanish legend finished runner-up in four more finals at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2019 against Novak Djokovic, in 2014 against Stan Wawrinka and in 2017 against Roger Federer after a five-set epic match.
Nadal will have to endure a mandatory 14-day quarantine, which is part of the protocols established by Tennis Australia and the concerned government bodies. The players will arrive in Australia from 15 to 17 January and quarantine for two weeks before the Australian Open gets underway on 8th February 2021. Roger Federer’s participation was thrown into doubt as he stated that he was not feeling 100 percent and is still recovering from a knee injury.
