The scene is set even before entering the stadium, with this Rafael Nadal banner fluttering in the wind. Planted first in front of those of Osaka or Rune, it welcomes visitors and puts them in the bath. On the bus before arriving, people discuss the Spaniard, winner the day before for his return to competition after almost a year of absence. “When I bought my ticket, I thought I would see one of his matches but unfortunately he is not playing today,” slips this sorry fan who plans to follow his training for the day.
We advise him to go there in advance. Tuesday, a few hours before his comeback, Nadal was full and the queues made some desperate. The former world No. 1 even had to explain several times that he would not sign autographs before the end of the session. The Mallorcan provokes quite crazy enthusiasm wherever he goes. “It’s incredible to feel an audience that supports me even more than before,” he judged. Everything but an agreed formula as the stadium was so reactive during his duel against Dominic Thiem.
The man who is rubbing his hands at such success is tournament director Cameron Pearson. Nadal’s return during his event, he dreamed it before it became reality. “I always said to myself that it would be an attractive tournament for him if he was able to play,” he explains. We spoke to his team and at the start of December he felt pretty prepared to start again and they told us he wanted to play Brisbane. »
“It’s going to be one of our best years in terms of ticketing”
Cameron Pearson, Brisbane Tournament Director
As an immediate consequence, ticket sales soared. Pearson again: “The tournament has always been strong but when a superstar like that says she’s coming, there’s definitely a spike in sales. This is going to be one of our best years in terms of ticketing. » Especially since in addition to Nadal, Brisbane was also the scene of the return of Naomi Osaka and presents a high-level line-up between world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka for the women and Holger Rune, headliner for the men.
A great way to bounce back for this meeting which had lost its place in favor of the ATP Cup and which this year combines an ATP 250 and a WTA 500. Date often chosen by big names to make their comeback (Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Roger Federer), the tournament was able to take full advantage of the return of one of the biggest names in this sport to regain its place in the sun. And Rafael Nadal, who plays his second match against Jason Kubler on Wednesday morning, is trying to do it again on the circuit.
2024-01-03 17:10:50
#Rafael #Nadal #godsend #Brisbane
