Rafael Nadal, 20 time Grand Slam champion, has provided some relief to his fans and the organizers of the Australian Open 2021, after his manager, Benito Pérez-Barbadillo confirmed his participation in the year’s first Grand Slam event.
The Spaniard will have to endure a mandatory 14-day quarantine which is a part of the protocols established by Tennis Australia and the concerned governing bodies.
The players will arrive in Australia from 15-17 January, quarantine for two weeks, before the Australian Open 2021 gets underway from February 8.
Roger Federer’s participation was thrown into doubt as he stated that he was not feeling his 100 percent and is still recovering from a knee injury.
Hence, Rafael Nadal’s confirmed presence gives the organizers a huge sigh of relief. “Rafa is confirmed he is travelling to Melbourne and playing in the Australian Open,” Nadal’s manager Benito Pérez-Barbadillo told The Age.
A change of fortune for Nadal at the Australian Open 2021?
Rafael Nadal has only claimed one Australian Open title in his illustrious career. His only Australian Open scalp came in 2009, when he defeated Roger Federer in a five-set thriller in the finals.
Ever since, the Spaniard has been hampered by injuries and four final losses at Melbourne. From 2012-2020, Nadal has lost four Australian Open finals to the likes of Novak Djokovic (2012,2019), Stan Wawrinka (2014), Roger Federer (2017).
It will be interesting to see if Rafael Nadal can change his fortune at the Australian Open 2021 and claim his long-awaited second title at Melbourne.
His closest and most fiercest rival, Novak Djokovic enters the tournament as the certain favorite, having won the Australian Open title, for a record eight times.
If Rafael Nadal manages to clinch his second title at the Rod Laver Arena, he will become the first man to complete his Double Career Grand Slam, winning each of the Grand Slams on at least two occasions.
