Cyrille de la Morinerie / Photo credit: William WEST / AFP
modified to
7:55 a.m., January 2, 2024
Injured and absent for almost a year, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal returned to the courts this Tuesday for the tournament in Brisbane, Australia. The former world number 1 faces Austrian Dominic Thiem in the remake of what was the Roland-Garros final in 2019.
After 347 days of absence and two hip operations, Rafael Nadal finally returns to competition. This Tuesday, he faces the Austrian Dominic Thiem in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane, Australia. The former world number 1 and true tennis legend had already played again last weekend in doubles.
Despite the defeat, the man with 22 Grand Slam titles still appeared as combative on the court. Now it’s time for singles against his former opponent in the final of Roland-Garros 2019, but the 37-year-old Majorcan displays measured ambitions. “I feel good. For me it is impossible to think about winning tournaments today, but what is possible is to enjoy my return to the court,” said the person.
“These are guys who are not made like us”
Rafael Nadal fell to 672nd place in the ATP rankings and even admitted that he had considered retiring before changing his mind. For former tennis coach Patrice Hagelauer, Rafael Nadal has the means to return to the highest level. “I never bury these guys. It was the same with Federer. These are guys who are not made like us. If his body leaves him alone, I am convinced that he will return to the top level” .
In 2024, the Spaniard has two dreams: to return to Roland-Garros, his favorite playground, a tournament he has won 14 times, and to compete in the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, next summer, at Porte d’Auteuil .