The day after Roger Federer got Melbourne Park all abuzz by announcing he'll be back at the Australian Open in January for a special ceremonial match, Rafa Nadal has joked following a hand operation that he's no shape to join his old friend and foe in action there.
On Thursday, organisers announced Federer, the great six-time champion, would be the headline act at what they hope will become a new Open tradition at the first ever eve-of-tournament opening ceremony on 17 January.
The 44-year-old Swiss great will play in a 'Battle of the World No.1s' curtain raiser, alongside four-time champ Andre Agassi and the home legends Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.
