Rafael Nadal made a strong comeback after a year of being injured, winning an exciting first-round match against Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International.
The athlete who has won 22 grand slam titles had been out of action since injuring his hip in the 2023 Australian Open second round. However, as this year’s Melbourne major approaches, he showcased his skills with an impressive 7-5 6-1 win in just an hour and 29 minutes.
“Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career without a doubt,” Nadal said on court after the victory. “To have the chance to come back after a year and play in front of an amazing crowd and play at a very positive level is something that probably makes us feel proud – myself, all the team, family that have been there every single day during the last year.
“I longed for good health, for the thrill of competition and the energy of playing in front of a packed crowd like this. Everything went smoothly and I am eagerly anticipating my return tomorrow.”
Prior to his highly anticipated return, Nadal expressed that he found it “unthinkable” to consider winning tournaments. The first set was closely contested before the Spaniard clinched a crucial break of serve, taking advantage of his fourth set point.
Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, had barely put a foot wrong at that stage but the Austrian was quickly facing an early exit. Nadal backed up seizing the initiative by asserting his authority on the contest with another break of serve early in the second set. The 37-year-old, who underwent hip surgery last summer, then won four of the next five games to secure a statement victory at the end of his lengthy spell on the sidelines. He will face either the Russian Aslan Karatsev, seeded eighth, or the Australian wildcard Jason Kubler in round two.
“The support is super important, especially in the low moments,” added Nadal. “I had the chance to receive thousands of messages during all of this year and having great people next to me every single day makes the difference without a doubt. I don’t have a real test about how the level was, I have been too long outside. The first set was very equal, both us serving very well. Then I was able to have that break at 6-5, so that makes the difference.
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“I am aware that Dominic has faced challenges with injuries recently, so I am pleased to see him back on the court. I wish him the best of luck for the season.”
