Nadal Is Back, Wins Comeback Match Over Thiem In Brisbane

Rafael Nadal, Brisbane, ATP Tour
Rafael Nadal (photo: ATP Tour video)

BRISBANE/WASHINGTON, January 2, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

Rafael Nadal is back – and he’s in the win column for the first time in nearly a year following his 7-5, 6-1, first-round victory over Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International presented by Evie Tuesday evening. After being sidelined for 349 days with a hip injury that required surgery last June, it was worth the wait to see the 37-year-old Spaniard return to the competitive arena.

From first ball to last rally inside Pat Rafter Arena, it was as if the 20-time major champion Nadal had never left. He was impressive. His satisfying and emotional victory against Thiem, 30, completed in an hour and 29 minutes, was filled with plenty of positives. Nadal moved well about the court, he was strong on serve, and he played sharp during high pressure moments. Although one match – one victory – does not define a season, it was important to see the former World No. 1, now ranked 672nd and the bearer of a wild card into the main draw, playing tennis at a high level in rolling to his 10th career win over the 98th-ranked Austrian in 16 meetings.

Nadal won 90 percent (28 of 31) of his first-serve points and backed it with an 80-percent efficiency rate (12 of 15) on his second serve. He faced no break points and broke Thiem’s serve three times in six tries. Nadal outpointed Thiem 61-39 to move into the second round of the ATP 250 hardcourt event at Queensland Tennis Centre. On Thursday, he will play Australian wild card Jason Kubler, who advanced by retirement over No. 8 seed Aslan Karatsev of Russia after the two split sets.

Looking back at his 2024 debut performance, it was a day for Nadal to be happy.

“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 during his on-court interview. “I had the chance to come back after a year and play in front of an amazing crowd and play, I think, at a very positive level.

“On the first day, it is something that makes us feel proud. Myself, all the team and family that have been there every single day during the past year.”

Later, during his press conference, Nadal said there’s plenty of work still to do. However, he’s willing and ready to go. Nadal has appeared in great physical shape thus far in Brisbane.

“The first thing, and I repeat it, is to stay healthy,” Nadal stressed to reporters. “If I am able to stay healthy, I am able to practice at the level that I need to practice. If I’m able to play matches feeling myself ready to play the match, then the chances of being competitive in a [short] period of time are much higher.

“If after tomorrow you go on court and you have problems, then the process is much tougher. For me the main thing is stay healthy. I really think that I didn’t forget how to play tennis. The only thing that’s going to be difficult to make it in a professional match and in a very high level of tennis. Because at the end, you need to recover movement, something that takes time.”

Like Nadal, the former World No. 3 Thiem has been working himself back into the form that made him a major champion after winning the 2020 US Open before succumbing to a wrist injury that sidelined him for 10 months spread across the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He reached the Brisbane main draw after winning a pair of qualifying matches.

“The first set was equal, with both of us serving well and more or less winning on serve,” Nadal said. “I was able to have that break at 6-5, so that makes the difference. Honestly, I know Dominic has gone through some hard times with injuries too, so I’m happy to see him on court and I wish him the very best for the season.” 

In the second set, Nadal maintained a steady level. He broke Thiem in the second and sixth games and coasted to the finish line. Nadal struck 12 winners, including three aces, and didn’t commit a double fault until the final game of the match. By then, it merely delayed the inevitable conclusion by one additional point. No worries, though. Nadal’s players’ box and his fans wouldn’t let him fail in his comeback.

“The support is super important, especially in the low moments,” Nadal said. “I had the chance to receive thousands of messages during this year and having great people next to me every single day makes the difference, without a doubt. I missed being healthy, I missed feeling competitive and playing in front of full crowds like this.”

Indeed, Tuesday was a day for Nadal to be happy, “a happy day for me,” he said. “I have off tomorrow to keep practicing. I am excited to have the chance to play another time. That’s for me the most important thing.”

By the numbers

With his 7-5, 6-1 victory over Dominic Thiem in Brisbane — his 1,069th — Rafael Nadal moved into fourth place all time for most career wins by a man in the Open Era. He surpassed Ivan Lendl’s 1,068 and only trails Jimmy Connors (1,274), Roger Federer (1,251) and Novak Djokovic (1,089).

“Quotable …”

“I think the last year has been a positive year for him because after a tough time, he was able to come back to the Top 100. Something that is not easy. I think he starts the year again with the ambition to make a positive year and to finish the year with a much higher ranking. That, I think, is something that should happen if he is healthy.”

— Rafael Nadal during his post-match press conference, offering encouraging words about Dominic Thiem.

 

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