Former tennis world number one Rafael Nadal will return at the Brisbane International warm up event for the Australian Open in January, the Spaniard said on Friday. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has not played a competitive match since bowing out in the second round of this year's Australian Open when hampered by a hip flexor problem. The Brisbane tournament, which is returning after a three-year hiatus forced initially by the COVID pandemic, will run from Dec. 31 to Jan. 7.
