Nadal Is Back, Feeling Appreciative, And Ready To Go In Brisbane

Rafael Nadal, Brisbane, ATP Tour
Rafael Nadal in Brisbane (photo: Tennis Australia/Scott Davis)

BRISBANE/WASHINGTON, December 31, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

Rafael Nadal can’t predict if his body will allow him to enjoy playing tennis as much as he’s enjoyed the past 20 years, in which he’s won 92 titles – including 22 Grand Slam crowns – and 1,068 career singles matches, all while earning more than $134 million in prize money.

“I don’t know if my body will allow me to be competitive,” the 37-year-old Nadal admitted Sunday, during his pre-tournament news conference at the Brisbane International presented by Evie in Brisbane, Australia. “I mean, not in a way to win the most important events, but the way that makes me happy, feel myself competitive to go on court and to feel that I can compete against anyone.”

Nadal said it was not an easy decision to come back from a hip injury, which sidelined him much of the season following the 2023 Australian Open and required surgery. The Spaniard was limited to just four matches last year and went 1-3, including a second-round straight-set loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open, which was his last time on court. However, Nadal is happy to be back and looks forward to playing in Brisbane this week.

“Good feelings to be back,” said Nadal, who was a 2017 quarterfinalist the last time he played in Brisbane. “I think that’s why I decided to be here the first week of the season. I decided to be here on my comeback because I had positive feelings from the past. I wanted to come back in a place that was familiar for me and a place that brings me back to good memories.”

While Nadal won’t confirm or deny, he said that 2024 will “probably” be his final year on the ATP Tour.

“The problem about saying that it’s going to be my last season is I can’t predict what’s going on 100 percent in the future,” he said. “That’s why I say probably.

“It’s obvious that it’s a high percentage that this is going to be my last time playing here in Australia. But if I am here next year, don’t tell me, ‘You said (this is) going to be your last season’, because I didn’t say it.” Nadal smiled as he spoke.

Nadal admitted that he “went through a lot to be back on a tennis court,” and thus, he’s doing his darnedest to avoid thinking about retirement just yet. The Spaniard received praise from his peers, including World No. 8 and Brisbane top seed Holger Rune and long-time British rival Andy Murray, whom he shared recent practices with both players. He also hit with young American star Ben Shelton, who is ranked 16th.

“In a realistic world,” Nadal said, “I’m happy the way that I am practicing. Of course, I don’t have the expectations that I used to have in the past, especially for the beginning.

“It’s (been) one year. It’s surgery. It’s a long period of time not practicing at a decent level. For me, it is a little bit unpredictable  how things (are) going to be. Competing is different than practicing. But in terms of practicing with the guys here, I am quite happy because I am able to feel competitive against the players I played.

“That’s a lot for me because I (didn’t) know one month ago if I would have the chance to come here or feel myself enjoying the practices. I feel ready to compete. Then what can happen in the competition, I can’t know. I don’t know.”

Nadal’s pathway to reaching next Sunday’s final starts with a highly-anticipated tussle against qualifier Dominic Thiem and could include matches against No. 8 seed Aslan Karatsev, No. 4 seed Ugo Humbert and No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov.

“Doesn’t matter at the end of the day if I win or don’t,” Nadal admitted in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. “If I have those feelings … You never know what’s my approach because at the end I went through a lot to be back on a tennis court.”

Around the Queensland Tennis Centre

Rafael Nadal will face quite a big test in his first-round match later this week at the Brisbane International presented by Evie, in his first tournament since the 2023 Australian Open. The 672nd-ranked Spaniard, who received a wild card, will oppose former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem of Austria in a matchup of former major champions. Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion who is now ranked 98th, earned his place in the 32-player draw by winning two qualifying matches over the weekend. It will be the pair’s 16th career meeting, with Nadal leading their series 9-6.

“Had some great practice sessions in the last couple of days! 🔥” Thiem wrote on Instagram, describing the earlier practices he and Nadal shared since arriving in Brisbane last week.

World No. 8 Holger Rune of Denmark is the tournament’s top seed and will open against No. 45 Max Purcell of Australia on Monday. Other seeds in Rune’s upper half of the draw include: No. 3 Ben Shelton and No. 5 Sebastian Korda, both of the United States, and No. 6 Sebastian Baez of Argentina. World No. 14 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria anchors the bottom half of the draw. He will open against No. 42 Andy Murray of Great Britain Monday evening. Other seeds in Dimitrov’s half of the draw include: No. 4 Ugo Humbert of France, No. 7 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina and No. 8 Aslan Karatsev of Russia.

Up for grabs is first-prize money of $95,340 to the winner plus 250 ATP Rankings points awarded to the champion.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Nadal and fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez, who he teamed with to win an Olympic gold medal in 2016, lost to Australians Purcell and Jordan Thompson, 6-4, 6-4, in a first-round doubles match.

 

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