Rafael Nadal has arrived in Melbourne for the Australian Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Nadal has been welcomed back to the Australian Open, a tournament he won twice during his phenomenal career.
The former ATP number one lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2022, winning finals against Roger Federer and Daniil Medvedev respectively.
Nadal is now back at the Australian Open, where his fellow Spaniard Alcaraz can become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
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Rafael Nadal not worried about Carlos Alcaraz breaking his career Grand Slam record
Alcaraz would achieve the feat aged 22 if he beats Djokovic, breaking the record set by Nadal when he was 24.
When asked by 9 News Australia how that sits with him, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said: “Good for me. For me my career is over.
“I am not the kind of guy that is going to live the rest of my life thinking, ‘Oh wow somebody’s going to break a record, I’m worried for that’.
“No not at all to be honest. I’m very proud about what I achieved, and if somebody is doing better than me today, very welcome.”
And naming the favorite to win, he said: “I think the favorite is Carlos, because he’s young, he’s at his prime. Let’s see.
“I’m here, I hope to see a great show, great final, great level of tennis, hopefully a very competitive game.”
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Ahead of the final, Nadal will be taking part in a Night of Legends event, where he will be joined by WTA icon Ashleigh Barty and Australian wheelchair ace Dylan Alcott.
It arrives after his fellow legend and former rival Roger Federer played an exhibition match at the very start of the Grand Slam.
Sharing his take on that appearance, Nadal said: “I think that brings a little bit of this nostalgic energy to the fans. It’s a shame that we were not together, to be honest, but we will have time for that.”
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Australian Open fans were indeed treated to nostalgia in that event, where Federer was joined by Barty, Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter, and Lleyton Hewitt.
Similar nostalgia will be on show with Nadal, although the fans are undoubtedly most excited about the final.
Fittingly, like Alcaraz, Djokovic is also chasing career history, where success would move him to the very top of the all-time Grand Slam title list.
The Serbian veteran is currently level with Margaret Court on 24, and now arguably has his best chance of going one better given his stunning history at the Australian Open.
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