Rafael Nadal returns to competitive singles with a win, beating Dominic Thiem in Brisbane

Tennis icon Rafael Nadal didn’t look like he’d spent nearly a year away from the game as he defeated Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-1 at the Brisbane International on Tuesday in Australia.

Nadal, 37, hadn’t appeared at an elite-level singles match since a hip injury at the Australian Open last January, but his mobility didn’t appear hindered. He lost only six points on his serve and won eight of the last nine games in the match.

“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.”

Nadal noted it had been the longest period of his career without being in a professional tournament. It was his first win since beating Jack Draper in his opening-round match at last year’s Australian Open.

“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. “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.”

It marked Nadal’s 1069th tour-level victory, overtaking Ivan Lendl for fourth on the all-time men’s leaderboard behind Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

The Spaniard, who is ranked No. 672 and playing on a wild card at the tournament, will face home wild card Jason Kubler next. The 30-year-old Australian was level with Aslan Karatsev at 6-4, 6-7(4) on Tuesday when the No. 8 seed retired due to a knee injury.

Nadal gives signature performance in singles returnEven for a 22-time Grand Slam champion, the bar for Nadal in his opening match was exceedingly low.

There are plenty of folks on Nadal’s team, starting with his coaches and trainers, who were happy just to see him finish a match upright after everything he has been through.

During the final eight months of the 2022 season and into those first weeks of last year, that was hardly guaranteed. One injury tolled into another. A cracked rib. The return of the chronic pain in his foot. An abdominal tear. Knee trouble. Then the hip catastrophe in the second round of the Australian Open that looked for a long while like it might be a career-ender.

Just weeks ago, Nadal stared into a camera and said he had no idea what would happen when he returned to the court.

“I expect from myself not to expect anything. This is the truth,” he said. “I believe I’m in a different moment, in a different situation and in an unexplored terrain.”

And then Tuesday night in Brisbane, so much looked familiar, especially given his opponent was Thiem, the 2020 U.S. Open champion who once seemed poised to join Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the top of the sport. Thiem is a shadow of his former self, but Nadal once more showed off those whipping, curling forehands, those trademark strategic charges into the court to finish points, and the relentless desire to chase balls that so many others give up on.

Given Nadal’s history, it won’t take much to raise the hopes of the Spaniard’s countless fans that the Nadal of old is just around the corner. Maybe he is. Maybe this will be 2022 all over again, when Nadal stormed back from season-ending injuries to win the title.

That’s probably too much to ask for. An opening season, opening round two-set win over a faded former champion is one thing. Five sets against the Djokovics, Carlos Alcarazes and Jannik Sinners of the world is something else entirely.

More days that end upright. More matches and tournaments during what is likely a farewell season. That should count as victory enough.

“The first thing, and I repeat it, is to stay healthy,” Nadal said in a news conference after the match. “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 to be competitive in a not very long period of time are much higher.”

Nadal continued: “If after tomorrow you go on (the) court and you have problems, then the process is much tougher.” — Matthew Futterman, tennis senior writer

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(Photo: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images)