Rafael Nadal returns and loses in doubles
Rafael Nadal returns and loses in doubles
Rafael Nadal è officially returned to the court 347 days after last competing in the Brisbane ATP 250, a tournament that marks the Spaniard’s return to the circuit after a year-long injury layoff. Awaiting his singles debut, the Spaniard broke the ice in the doubles tournament on the Australian city’s concrete.
Paired with Marc Lopez, the two Spaniards lost in doubles 6-4 to Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson. A match to regain the feeling with the court: appearing initially out of phase, Nadal è grew in the distance, especially in performance.
Nadal will return to the court on the Italian night between Monday and Tuesday for his singles debut. His opponent will be Dominic Thiem, who made it through qualifying by eliminating Giulio Zeppieri with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The one between the Austrian and Nadal will be the 16th career showdown, a remake of the 2018 and 2019 Roland Garros finals, both won by Rafa who è ahead 9-6.
“I am fine and I am happy to be back – began a super smiling Nadal in the press conference – Although I played only once here, in 2017. Then the next year I trained all week, but I could not play because I had a small injury. I have positive memories, even though I lost to Raonic in the quarters: è it was a good way to prepare for the Australian Open, as I made it to the final after a few years of not being able to. I think that is why I decided to come back here the first week of the season-I decided to come back to the circuit in Brisbane because I had positive feelings from the past. I wanted to come back to a place that was familiar and brought back good memories".
Almost certainly 2024 should be the Majorcan’s last year on the circuit, although the word "last" Rafa doesn’t want to pronounce it: "The problem in saying that it will be my last season è that I can’t predict 100% what will happen in the future. That è is the point. Thaté is why I say 'probably'. È obviously there's a strong probability that this will be the last time I play here in Australia. But if it's still here next year, I don't want to hear that I said this would be my last season, because I didn't,” he stresses. “I can't predict how I'll be in the next six months. I cannot predict whether my body will allow me to enjoy tennis as much as I have been able to over the last 20 years. I don’t know if my body will allow meà to be competitive".
