Rafael Nadal has made his return to Melbourne, set to take part in the Australian Open closing ceremony. It’s his first appearance at the tournament since 2023.
The Australian Open has welcomed back several legends for this year’s event, including Lleyton Hewitt, Jennifer Capriati, and Rod Laver.
Roger Federer also made an appearance during Opening Week, joining Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter, Hewitt, and Ash Barty for a doubles match.
While on promotional duties in Melbourne, Nadal weighed in on who he thinks will come out on top in the Australian Open final.
Rafael Nadal backs Carlos Alcaraz ahead of Novak Djokovic clash
Carlos Alcaraz versus Novak Djokovic has become one of the more anticipated Grand Slam finals in recent years, with plenty on the line for both players.
Djokovic is aiming to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, which would give him the outright record for most majors won.
A win for Alcaraz would make him the youngest player in tennis history to complete a Career Grand Slam. Asked to pick a favourite, Nadal spoke to Australian outlet Nine and backed his fellow Spaniard.
“I think the favourite is Carlos,” he said. “He’s young, he has the energy and he’s in his prime. But I mean, Novak is Novak. He’s a very special player.
“I don’t know if Novak has lost a final here. It’s always a challenge and he likes challenges (But) my favorite is Carlos from my point of view.”
Both players were pushed to five sets in their semi-finals. Djokovic survived an epic battle with Jannik Sinner, while Alcaraz outlasted Alexander Zverev in over five hours of play.
The final will be held at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 1 February, with play scheduled to start at 7:30 pm local time.
Australian star says fans could be doubting Novak Djokovic
Following two thrilling semi-finals, there’s an argument to be made that the gap between Djokovic and Alcaraz has never been smaller, even with Nadal backing the Spaniard as the favourite.
Djokovic is aiming for his 11th Australian Open title, and one of those supporters is former Aussie player John Millman.
“Too many people have doubted him throughout this tournament. People say he should have retired. He’s number four in the world, off only 13 tournaments in 2025. I’m going for the GOAT.”
This will be their first major final meeting since Wimbledon in 2024, when Alcaraz came out on top against Djokovic in straight sets to claim his first Wimbledon title.