[1/2] Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2023 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 11 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will play at the Australian Open in January, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday, as the 37-year-old former world number one returns to the sport after undergoing hip surgery earlier this year. The Spaniard, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, has been out of action since January after hurting his hip flexor in a second-round defeat at the Australian Open. He underwent surgery on a hip muscle in June and was expected to be sidelined for about five months. Tiley also said Australian Nick Kyrgios could return at the Melbourne Park Grand Slam after he underwent knee surgery in January and suffered wrist and foot issues in an injury-plagued 2023. Nadal has won the Australian Open twice, with his last victory coming in 2022 when he beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev and became the first man in the Open era to come back from two sets down in the final to win.

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Persons: Spain's Rafael Nadal, Mackenzie Mcdonald, Loren Elliott, Rafa Nadal, Craig Tiley, Rafa, Tiley, He's, Nick Kyrgios, Nick's, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Melbourne, U.S, REUTERS, The, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Bengaluru