NewKerala.com

Rafael Nadal Returns to Melbourne for Australian Open Legends Event

Rafael Nadal has arrived in Melbourne for a special appearance at the Australian Open's 'Night of Legends' event. The retired 22-time Grand Slam champion will be joined by former stars Ashleigh Barty and Dylan Alcott for fan activities ahead of the men's final. Nadal, a two-time Australian Open champion, is renowned for his epic 2022 final comeback against Daniil Medvedev. His appearance follows a similar special return by Roger Federer during the tournament's opening ceremonies.

Key Points: Rafael Nadal at Australian Open Night of Legends

  • Nadal's special appearance at Night of Legends
  • Event features Ashleigh Barty & Dylan Alcott
  • Nadal retired from tennis in 2024
  • He won the Australian Open in 2009 and 2022
  • Event includes fan activities and live music
2 min read

Aus Open: Rafael Nadal arrives in Melbourne to take part in 'Night of Legends' event

Rafael Nadal arrives in Melbourne for a special appearance at the Australian Open's Night of Legends event, joining Ashleigh Barty and Dylan Alcott.

"A very familiar face made an appearance at the Australian Open. - Roland Garros on X"

Melbourne, Jan 31

The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has reached the city on Saturday for a special appearance at the Australian Open's Night of Legends on Sunday, the same day as the men's singles final between 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Roland Garros posted a video of Nadal's arrival in the sporting arena. 'A very familiar face made an appearance at the Australian Open,' they wrote on X.

The 39-year-old tennis great will be joined by former world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and Australian wheelchair tennis legend Dylan Alcott during the event, which will include interactive activities for fans, live music with a DJ, and multiple prizes for spectators who arrive early to get ready for the men's final.

The Spanard is likely to attend both the women's and men's finals from the players' box.

Nadal, who retired from tennis in November 2024, lifted the trophy at Melbourne Park in 2009 and 2022, needing five sets in both finals to win the title.

In the 2022 final, Nadal mounted an epic comeback from two sets to love down against Daniil Medvedev to reign victorious after a five-hour, 24-minute battle. The Spaniard tallied a 77-16 match record at the season's first major, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index.

The 2012 final clash between Nadal and Djokovic is still the longest ever match in Australian Open history. The title match lasted 5 hr 53 minutes and was won by the Serbian.

Before Nadal, fellow tennis great Roger Federer also made a special appearance during the tournament's opening ceremony, joining a star-studded lineup that included Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, Patrick Rafter, and Ashleigh Barty in a celebratory exhibition.

Nadal also made a special return to the Roland Garros last year for a special farewell ceremony, where the fans and tennis stars paid tribute to the magnificent career of the 14-time French Open champion.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's wonderful to see such legends being honoured. The respect for sporting greats transcends borders. As an Indian tennis fan, watching Nadal vs Djokovic matches were epic. That 2012 final was pure torture and brilliance! Hope he enjoys the event.
R
Rohit P
Great to see him back on court, even if just for an event. But honestly, the focus should be on the current final between Djokovic and Alcaraz. We tend to glorify the past a bit too much sometimes. The future of tennis is happening right now!
S
Sarah B
The 'Night of Legends' sounds like an amazing fan experience. Interactive activities and live music? Melbourne Park knows how to put on a show. Wish Indian tournaments had this level of spectacle around our own legends like Paes or Bhupathi.
V
Vikram M
Nadal's work ethic and humility are qualities we teach our kids. His rivalry with Federer and Djokovic defined an era. As an Indian, I see parallels in the dedication of our cricketers. True champions inspire across sports and countries.
K
Kavya N
The article mentions his farewell at Roland Garros last year. It's so important to celebrate athletes when they retire. We should do more of this in India for our sporting icons. Gives me goosebumps thinking about his career. Vamos Rafa! šŸŽ¾

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50