Rafael Nadal makes a surprise appearance in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, where he is greeted by “a lot of happy fans.”
Rafael Nadal was surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of fans as he visited Queen Street Mall in Brisbane ahead of his highly anticipated return to competitive tennis at the Brisbane International. After almost a year-long break due to a hip injury that required surgery, the 37-year-old is making a comeback at the ATP 250 and WTA 500 combined event. Despite facing setbacks in his recovery, Nadal is now prepared for what is likely to be his final season on the Tour.
Tennis royalty hits Queen Street Mall 👑
Thank you, @RafaelNadal. A lot of happy fans in Brisbane today 🥳 pic.twitter.com/yZ5TMZwCpI
— Brisbane International (@BrisbaneTennis) December 29, 2023
Recently arriving in Brisbane, he practiced on the courts and interacted with fans at Queen Street Mall, with the Brisbane International sharing images and videos of the joyful crowd. Nadal, ranked 672nd, has been granted a wildcard for the main draw, and the draw for the ATP 250 event will take place on Saturday, December 30. This marks Nadal’s second appearance in Brisbane, following his quarterfinal run in 2017, and the ATP 250 tournament returns to the Tour for the first time since 2019.