Nadal has endured an injury disrupted few years after dominating world tennis for almost a decade.

He won the 2009 Australian Open and was one of the first men to halt Roger Federer’s dominance.

Nadal said he was hopeful of recapturing his past form as the 30-year-old searches for his first grand slam win since downing Novak Djokovic to claim the 2014 French Open.   

"I feel that Melbourne is an opportunity to play well again and to have positive feelings,” the 14-time grand slam champion said.

“Anything can happen if I start to feel good.”