Rafael Nadal Wins 1st Match After Nearly A Year Away From Tennis

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory after his match against ... [+] Dominic Thiem of Austria during day two of the 2024 Brisbane International at Queensland Tennis Centre on January 02, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

One day after Naomi Osaka made her long-awaited return to the court, Rafael Nadal followed suit and also emerged victorious.

The 37-year-old Spanish tennis legend beat former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem, 7-5. 6-1, in the first round of the Brisbane International. It was Nadal’s first match since he beat Jack Draper in the first round of the Australian Open a year ago.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been out of action since then after suffering an injury to his lower abdomen and upper right leg. He underwent keyhole hip surgery in June.

“Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career, without a doubt,” Nadal said in his on-court interview. “I had the chance to come back after a year and play in front of an amazing crowd and play, I think, at a very positive level.

“On the first day, it is something that makes us feel proud. Myself, all the team and family that have been there every single day during the past year.”

In a close first set, Nadal converted his fourth set point and broke Thiem, a two-time French Open finalist, in the 12th game. Nadal won the first nine points of the set on his serve.

“The first set was equal, with both of us serving well and more or less winning on serve,” said Nadal. “I was able to have that break at 6-5, so that makes the difference. Honestly, I know Dominic has gone through some hard times with injuries too, so I’m happy to see him on court and I wish him the very best for the season.”

In the second set, Nadal earned breaks in the second and sixth games to win the match in 89 minutes. He finished with 12 winners, including three aces, and won 90% (28-of-31) of his first-serve points.

Nadal now has 1,069 career wins, passing former world No. 1 Ivan Lendl on the all-time list. Only Jimmy Connors (1274), Roger Federer (1251) and Novak Djokovic (1088) remain ahead of the Spaniard. He will next face either No. 8 seed Aslan Karatsev or wild card Jason Kubler.

Nadal originally said 2024 would be his final year on tour, but before the Thiem match, he indicated he may continue playing beyond this year.

"It's obvious it's a high percentage that it's going to be my last time playing in Australia,” Nadal, a two-time Australian Open champion, said of the Open, which begins Jan. 14. “But if I'm here next year, don't tell me, 'you said it's going to be your last season' because I didn't say it.’

"You never know what's going on, you know? I can't predict how I'm going to be in the next six months. I can't predict if my body will allow me to enjoy tennis as much as I enjoyed the past 20 years.”

RADUCANU WINS IN RETURN AS WELL

Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu also won her first match in nine months.

Playing her first match since April, the 21-year-old Brit beat Elena Gabriela Ruse, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, to reach the second round in Auckland.

Raducanu, the only qualifier ever to win the U.S. Open (2021), was forced to miss the French Open and Wimbledon after undergoing operations on both wrists and one ankle at the beginning of May.

“It’s difficult after having such a long hiatus,” she said on court. “I’m grateful to be healthy and able to move my body. Not bedridden or in a wheel chair. It’s amazing to be out here and playing. I’m just really happy to be back on the tour. Can’t wait to start this season and carry on, hopefully injury free and healthy.”