Rafael Nadal Returns Victorious: A Stunning Comeback to Professional Tennis

The wait is over for tennis lovers. Rafael Nadal returned to play after a long inactivity of 349 days and achieved a resounding victory on his return to the professional circuit: he beat the Austrian Dominic Thiem 7-5 and 6-1 in the 32nd round of the ATP 250 in Brisbane and advanced in the tournament that will serve as preparation for what will be the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the 2024 season.

From the moment he entered the court at the Pat Rafter Arena, the public did not hide their fascination at seeing the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles again. As soon as he entered the stadium, everyone present had their cell phone cameras to immortalize the Mallorcan’s return to top-level tennis. As soon as he entered the venue, Nadal smiled as he looked at the stands.

* Rafa’s reaction when entering the stadium

Once he headed to his bench, the public near the place only managed to record another unique moment with their devices, while the Spaniard began his ritual in the run-up to the match against Thiem. In an even first set, the difference in Rafa’s favor came in game number 12: with the advantage 40-30 with the Austrian on serve, Nadal took advantage of his fourth break point to take the first set 7-5.

But before that, there were several plays in which he showed his stamp. One of them was with a pure wrist blow with his left foot that made the fans delirious when the duel was 1-1. Immediately afterwards, another flash of his stainless game left one of the most outstanding moments in his return to tennis since last January 18, 2023, when in the second round of the Australian Open, he lost to the American Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 , 6-4 and 7-5.

With the serve in his favor, and after a back-and-forth, Nadal returned a high lob from Thiem and scored near the net with a touch that provoked a cry of fury from the Spaniard to celebrate a luxury point.

* Nadal’s cry of fury after winning a point on his return to tennis

After the victory in the first set, the second set was very favorable for the 37-year-old tennis player who has accumulated 92 individual titles in his glorious career. He won the set by a resounding 6-1 to advance to the round in Brisbane. “Thanks for the support. “Today was a very exciting and special day for me,” said Nadal as soon as he finished his return to the professional circuit after almost a year of inactivity due to a persistent injury to the iliopsoas in his left leg that forced him to have to move away from the activity to achieve recovery that allows you to return to play.

“I am happy with the level shown in this first match. I’m proud of myself and the team after everything I’ve been through. “I was dreaming about this day while I was away,” added the Mallorcan, who with his victory in the tournament in the Australian city achieved the milestone of positioning himself as the fourth tennis player in history with the most wins in singles with 1,069, leaving behind to the legend Ivan Lendl. The list is topped by Jimmy Connors with 1,274 wins and Novak Djokovic is third (1,088 and counting).

* The word of the Spaniard after his victory against Thiem

In early December, Nadal posted a video in different parts in which he opened his heart and talked about how he looked forward to his return to tennis. “I am and have been afraid to announce things because, in the end, it is a year without competing. It’s a hip operation, but what worries me most is not the hip, but everything else. The reality is that it is a long time and one has doubts about his body. But hey, I think I’m prepared and I’m confident and I hope that things go well and that it gives me the opportunity to enjoy the track again,” Rafa said in the first part of the video.

Immediately afterwards, he made it clear what his thoughts would be after a long period off the field. “In the end, it is a long time. I hope, first of all, to feel those nerves again. That illusion, those fears, those doubts. I hope I don’t expect anything, this is the truth. Having the ability to not demand of myself what I have demanded of myself my entire career,” Nadal added in the publication.

Nadal celebrated his victory on his return to tennis after almost a year of inactivity (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)
2024-01-02 11:18:00
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