Rafael Nadal impressed on his long-awaited return after nearly a yr out with harm as he beat Dominic Thiem on the Brisbane Worldwide.
Nadal, contesting his first singles match in 349 days, gained 7-5 6-1.
Spain’s 22-time Grand Slam champion has indicated this season will doubtless be the final of his illustrious profession.
“At present is actually an emotional and vital day for me after in all probability one of many hardest years of my tennis profession,” 37-year-old Nadal mentioned.
“I had the possibility to return again after a yr and play in entrance of an incredible crowd and play at a really optimistic degree on the primary day, [It] is one thing that makes us really feel proud – my staff and household who’ve been there every single day within the final yr.”
Wildcard Nadal is utilizing the match to arrange for the Australian Open, which begins on 14 January in Melbourne.
He’ll play Australian Jason Kubler, ranked 102, within the final 16 on Thursday.
Nadal begins comeback in attainable ultimate yr
The final time Nadal was seen in singles motion he struggled with harm as he misplaced to Mackenzie McDonald within the second spherical of the 2023 Australian Open.
He had an operation on his left hip in June and has has since slipped to 672nd on this planet rankings.
Nadal started his comeback by partnering compatriot Marc Lopez in a doubles loss to Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in Brisbane on Sunday, two days earlier than his first singles check.
At instances on Tuesday, it appeared as if Nadal had by no means been away.
He set the tone by profitable 21 of his opening 24 factors on serve, displaying talent, poise and athleticism to the delight of the expectant night crowd.
Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion who has had his personal harm issues, had come by means of his first 5 service video games with none scares. However Nadal, with famed depth and reassuringly sharp motion, seized his alternative within the twelfth recreation – taking his fourth break level to wrap up the primary set.
He maintained that momentum at the beginning of the second set, securing love holds both aspect of breaking the Austrian’s serve for a second time as he opened a 3-0 lead.
A fading Thiem managed to finish the run of video games in opposition to him however he was unable to stop Nadal securing one other break for a commanding 5-1 benefit.
When he secured the victory, Nadal raised his arms and thanked the group as they celebrated a second of nice significance with him.
He mentioned in Could, after being compelled to overlook the French Open for the primary time in 19 years, that 2024 will “in all probability” be the ultimate yr of his profession.
However, following his doubles return in Brisbane, he mentioned his want to play on stays sturdy and he didn’t wish to say “100%” that this season could be his final.
Victory over Thiem was Nadal’s 1,069th at tour degree, a complete which moved him previous Ivan Lendl to sit down fourth on the all-time males’s record.
“As you may think about, at present it wasn’t a statistic I used to be conscious of,” Nadal mentioned.
“I had sufficient work simply to be targeted and are available again on courtroom and keep in mind the right way to play in a aggressive match.
“There have been nerves and doubts earlier than the match. However issues went effectively and I am excited to be again.”
Previous to his harm, Nadal was degree with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic for the report variety of males’s main triumphs, however Djokovic went on to win final yr’s French Open and US Open to maneuver to 24 Grand Slam titles.
