Rafael Nadal: “A very emotional day”

Dominic Thiem has felt the power of Rafael Nadal. The 37-year-old Mallorcan, who played his first tennis singles since January 18, 2023 after a hip injury, did not notice the lack of match practice at all. The 22-time Grand Slam champion won the first round in Brisbane relatively confidently 7:5, 6:1 and – not unexpectedly – proved one thing: If he returns to the tour, he will do so with 100 percent highest fitness level.

“Special match for me”

“It was a special match for me after a long break, a very emotional day after what was undoubtedly the most difficult year of my career. I didn’t know where I stood. But now I can say: That was a really good performance,” explained Nadal: “I missed tennis – the full stadiums, the support of the crowd.” The Pat Rafter Arena, which can accommodate around 5,500 spectators, was sold out; the family man’s comeback electrified the crowds, which also warmly welcomed Thiem, the former US Open champion.

What the two protagonists conjured up on the hard court in the first set did this classic absolutely justice. Nadal made it 10:6 head to head in the 16th duel on the ATP tour – ultimately absolutely deserved. Thiem, who had acted confidently in his own service games until the score was 5:5, began to weaken. Nadal takes advantage of something like this mercilessly. He ignited the turbo and scored his first match point after 88 minutes.

“I’m happy to see Dominic on the pitch”

What remains is mutual appreciation. “Dominic has also had tough times with injuries. I’m happy to see him on the court. I wish him all the best for this season,” Nadal told Thiem. The 30-year-old from Lichtenwörth, on the other hand, is happy that “Rafa is back”: “Tennis needs someone like him, he was already missing.”

At the end of the game, Thiem’s ​​tank was perhaps a little empty, he had had two strenuous qualifying matches in impressive temperatures.

What the immediate future will bring is still up in the air. The former world number one has legitimate hope of slipping into the main field of the Australian Open, which begins on January 14th. That still requires a rejection. We hear that the ailing American Reilly Opelka is considered a shaky candidate. “If I don’t have to qualify, I would have a few more days of training. The main thing is to work on the return, which is a weak point,” said Thiem.

Things are going perfectly for his friend Sebastian Ofner in Hong Kong. The world number 43. At the start, Mackenzie McDonald (USA) defeated 6:1, 6:2 and now faces Jan-Lennard Struff (D). “It went really well, I’m in a good mood and I’m really happy with my performance,” reported the 27-year-old Styrian.