By Daniel Edu
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal marked his return to the court today, December 31, after an almost year-long absence due to fitness concerns, but the comeback was marred by a loss in the Brisbane International doubles.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, partnered with Marc Lopez for the doubles match against Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson. Despite the anticipation surrounding Nadal’s return, the Spanish duo suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.
Having undergone left hip surgery in June, Nadal expressed joy at being back on the court. However, the defeat serves as a challenging start as he gears up for his first singles match since January, scheduled against 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem on Tuesday.
Lopez, currently serving as one of Nadal’s coaches, joined him in the doubles, providing a useful warm-up for the upcoming singles encounter.
Reflecting on the loss, the 37-year-old Nadal acknowledged the difference between competition and practice, stating, “Competing is different than practicing, but in terms of practicing with the guys here, I am quite happy because I feel competitive against the players that I played in practice. Of course, I don’t have the expectations that I used to have in the past.”
Regarding his potential retirement, Nadal, set to participate in the 2024 Australian Open in January, expressed a cautious outlook: “If I am playing well – something that can happen – if I am free of injuries – something that history says is very difficult – and if I am not having too much pain daily, if all the things together happen, why not? I don’t want to say 100% that’s going to be my last year because I keep loving tennis and keep enjoying what I am doing.”
