Rafael Nadal will proceed his comeback event when he faces Jordan Thompson within the Brisbane quarterfinals on Friday. No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov and wild card Rinky Hijikata are additionally aiming for a spot within the semis.
(WC) Rafael Nadal vs. Jordan Thompson
It could be an understatement to say that Nadal’s return to tennis following an 11-month layoff has gone extraordinarily effectively to date. The pattern measurement is clearly nonetheless small, however his first two matches on the Brisbane Worldwide have been very encouraging. Nadal, who missed nearly all of 2023 as a consequence of a hip damage, opened with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Dominic Thiem earlier than crushing Jason Kubler 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.
Up subsequent for the 37-year-old Spaniard on Friday evening is a quarterfinal assembly with Thompson, who trails the head-to-head collection 2-0. The Australian was comparatively aggressive as soon as, dropping 6-1, 7-6(3) on the 2020 Paris Masters earlier than getting clobbered 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 on the 2022 French Open. Thompson beat Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2 within the Brisbane first spherical after which bought a walkover from Ugo Humbert (sickness). That was a good stroke of luck for the world No. 55, however with the way in which Nadal is taking part in it appears to be like like Thompson’s luck from the draw has run out. This has all of the makings of one-way visitors.
Decide: Nadal in 2
(WC) Rinky Hijikata vs. (2) Grigor Dimitrov
Three Australians are into the Brisbane quarterfinals and Hijikata has performed extraordinarily effectively to maintain his hopes alive in entrance of the house crowd. The world No. 71 downed countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6(8), 6-2 in spherical one earlier than outlasting Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(4) on Thursday afternoon.
This quarterfinal end result has certainly not come out of nowhere for Hijikata, who loved a breakthrough 2023 marketing campaign on the ATP Tour. Sadly for the previous College of North Carolina standout, Dimitrov is in even higher kind. The 32-year-old Bulgarian completed final season at 14th within the rankings and it appears to be like like will probably be full steam forward for him in 2024. He defeated Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to kick issues off and adopted that up with a 6-1, 6-2 beatdown. Dimitrov at all times appears to play effectively in Australia and he ought to have the ability to benefit from an opponent who’s in kind but in addition possible fatigued.
Decide: Dimitrov in 2