Rafael Nadal is back at the Australian Open, and he’ll be watching from the stands when Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz battle it out in Sunday’s men’s final.
The legendary Spaniard knows Melbourne Park pretty well himself. Sure, the Australian Open isn’t his strongest tournament – that’d be the French Open – but he’s still managed to win it twice, back in 2009 and 2022.
After Roger Federer kicked off this year’s tournament with his appearance at the opening ceremonies, now it’s Nadal’s turn to be part of the closing act.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 38 | 215 | 7 - 5 |
He’s already in Melbourne and will be honored during the Night of Legends event at the Kia Arena on Sunday, alongside Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott.
So why’s Nadal in town? It’s actually tied to one of his main sponsors, Kia. The car company is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a major Australian Open sponsor, and they wanted their star athlete there for the festivities.
Since he’s at Melbourne Park anyway, there’s no way Nadal’s missing Sunday’s final.
And what a final it’s going to be. History’s definitely on the line here.
Two Paths to Tennis History
If Alcaraz wins, he’ll become the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam. The guy’s only 21 and already has three major titles under his belt.
If Djokovic takes the trophy, he’ll be the first person ever to win 25 major titles. That’s pretty incredible when you think about it.
Nadal was asked who he’s rooting for, and honestly, it’s a tough spot for him. He’s got serious history with Djokovic – they battled each other for years at the highest level of tennis. But Alcaraz is his fellow Spaniard, and they even teamed up at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In the end, national pride wins out.
"Honestly, I have mixed feelings because my history with Novak is spectacular. We competed at the highest level for many years, and I wish him all the best. Honestly, if he wins, I’ll be very happy for him."
"But on the other hand, Carlos is my compatriot, and we’ve shared important moments at the Olympic Games, so I have to support him. In any case, there won’t be any drama for me no matter what happens."
Nadal ‘Not Surprised’ by Djokovic’s Run
While he’s in Melbourne, Nadal also shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s pretty amazing semifinal win over world No. 2 Jannik Sinner.
A lot of people were shocked that the 37-year-old Djokovic could still play at that level. But not Nadal.
"It doesn’t surprise me to see Novak in the final. Why not? I’d be competing too if it weren’t for the injuries. If you’re not exhausted from everything that tennis entails, you can keep going. It’s very positive for our sport that he’s still active and able to compete on equal terms with younger players."
That’s a pretty telling comment about his own retirement. Nadal stepped away from tennis last year, but it sounds like injuries were the main factor, not age.
"He’s not at his peak, but he still has everything he needs to achieve great success. He deserves a lot of respect; I consider Novak a great example of resilience and commitment for everyone."
Alcaraz Doesn’t Need His Advice
With Nadal openly supporting Alcaraz in Sunday’s final, and the two being pretty close through their Spanish connection, people naturally wondered if he’s been giving his young compatriot any advice.
This got even more interesting after Alcaraz surprisingly split with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero earlier this year. Some fans started thinking maybe Nadal could step into that role.
But the 22-time major champion doesn’t think Alcaraz needs his help.
"He’s a true professional, he has a great team, and he hasn’t asked me for advice because he really doesn’t need it."
That’s high praise coming from someone who knows a thing or two about winning Grand Slams.
It’ll be fascinating to see Nadal’s reaction courtside during Sunday’s final, especially if his fellow Spaniard manages to make history by completing that career Grand Slam at just 21 years old.
