Nadal has low expectations for Australian Open

Rafael Nadal says he does not have big expectations for the Australian Open as he prepares to play for the first time since a foot injury ruled him out of the final months of the 2021 season.

The 35-year-old Spaniard plays Britain’s Andy Murray today at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

Nadal has played one event – Washington in August – since early June.

Nadal was hampered by the foot injury at the French Open in June, where he failed to defend his title for the first time since 2016 after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.