"Before the match it was impossible to imagine myself winning it" - Rafael Nadal recalls 2009 Australian Open final against Roger Federer 

Rafael Nadal will be back on the court at the Brisbane International after missing nearly a year of tennis action due to a hip injury.

The Spaniard, who last played at the 2023 Australian Open, was spotted hitting the practice courts ahead of the ATP 250 event before fulfilling pre-tournament press duties.

Nadal spoke to the media about a range of topics including his injury layoff, fitness, and expectations for the 2024 season.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion also found a moment to reflect on his stellar run to the title during the 2009 Australian Open.

Nadal entered the tournament as the top seed and reached the semifinals following straight-set wins over Olivier Rochus, Roko Karanusic, Tommy Haas, Fernando Gonzalez and Gilles Simon.

Here, he defeated compatriot Fernando Verdasco in five sets to set up a title clash against Roger Federer. Nadal triumphed over the Swiss in another five-set thriller in the final to win his maiden Australian Open crown.

The Spaniard told the media in Brisbane that heading into the contest in 2009, he thought it was “impossible” to win that matc.

"I still don't know," Rafael Nadal said. "Before the match it was impossible to imagine myself winning that match.

The Spaniard did not win another title at the Melbourne Major until 2022 when he triumphed over Daniil Medvedev in the final despite being two sets down.

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“Much better than what I expected a month ago” - Rafael Nadal gives positive update on his fitness

Rafael Nadal hitting the practice courts in Brisbane during the Australia Open swing.

Rafael Nadal also gave fans an update on his fitness levels, saying that he was feeling much better than he had expected a month ago. However, he was quick to mention that he was not setting any long-term goals just yet.

"Much better than what I expected a month ago. I can't have super long-term goals because I don't see myself playing a super long time," Rafael Nadal said.

Nadal will make his long-awaited comeback to the Tour at the 2024 Brisbane International, which commences with main draw action on Monday, January 1.

The Spaniard was given a wildcard entry into the main draw. Leading the field at this year’s tournament is top seed Holger Rune, while the likes of Grigor Dimitrov and Ben Shelton also feature in the draw.