BRISBANE, Australia — The tennis world witnessed a remarkable comeback on Tuesday as Rafael Nadal, a 22-time major winner, marked his return to competitive play after nearly a year away from the tour. The Spanish superstar displayed no signs of rust in an impressive 7-5, 6-1 victory over Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International.
For Nadal, the match carried significant emotional weight, considering it was his first professional appearance in almost 12 months. The 37-year-old had last played a singles match at the elite level in January, where he exited the Australian Open due to a hip injury. Despite the extended break, Nadal showed resilience and skill, making the absence seem inconspicuous.
Reflecting on the momentous occasion, Nadal expressed, “Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me. To play at a very positive level on the first day is something that probably makes [me] feel proud.” The tennis icon acknowledged that the past year had been one of the toughest periods in his professional career, making his successful return all the more poignant.
Nadal‘s performance on the court was nothing short of stellar. Making just a handful of unforced errors, he lost a mere six points on his serve throughout the entire match. His stunning forehand winners and strategic gameplay were evident as he secured a decisive break at 6-5 in the first set and dominated the latter stages, winning eight of the last nine games.
Ranked at No. 672 and competing on a wild card in Brisbane, Nadal discussed the nerves he felt before the match, admitting, “You go on court and you have more nerves than usual because you [are] really at the end [of rehab and] hope that you’re going to play at this level, but inside yourself you know that [it] can be a disaster, and that, of course, worried me.”
The tennis maestro expressed contentment with his low error rate, effective game management, and the overall condition of his body after his return to the top level. “I didn’t make a lot of bad decisions choosing the shots that I have to play, and that’s something difficult after such a long time,” he said. “Something that I’m happy with.”
Nadal’s next challenge will be against Australian wild card Jason Kubler, who was in a tight battle with Aslan Karatsev when the No. 8 seed retired injured.
Rafael Nadal on his comeback win. "I missed being healthy. I missed feeling myself (be) competitive and play in front of full crowds like this".
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 2, 2024
In other tournament highlights, rain interrupted play on outside courts for the second consecutive day, but the covered Pat Rafter Arena ensured that matches proceeded smoothly. The day’s first result saw No. 51-ranked Yannick Hanfmann of Germany defeating fifth-seeded Sebastian Korda 7-5, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, there was a major upset as 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin fell to No. 113-ranked Arina Rodionova in the second round. Despite having chances in both sets, Kenin couldn’t withstand the pressure on her serve against the resilient Australian veteran.
Meanwhile, former Brisbane International and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka faced some challenges but ultimately secured a victory against Anna Kalinskaya, winning 6-1, 7-6 (8). Azarenka acknowledged the difficulty of closing out first matches but expressed satisfaction with her performance.
As the Brisbane International continues, tennis fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling matches and the unfolding of exciting storylines in this early chapter of the 2024 season.
Image Credit: BBC UK
