2023-12-31 14:33:29
No matter the result, only the smile counts… Absent from the courts for almost a year and his defeat in the 2nd round of the 2023 Australian Open associated with a hip injury, Rafael Nadal has rediscovered the joy of official competition in Brisbane. Before facing Dominic Thiem on Tuesday for his big comeback in singles, the former world No. 1 and winner of twenty-two Grand Slams, 37, offered himself a short stint in the doubles event.
Associated with… his trainer Marc Lopez, 41, with whom he notably won Olympic gold in Rio in 2016, the Spaniard lost to the Australian pair Purcell-Thompson in two sets (6-4, 6 -4). A smooth recovery to allow him to refine some adjustments two days before his match against the Austrian at the Pat Rafter Arena.
For the record, the man with 14 Roland-Garros titles conceded the first break of the match at 2-2 on his commitment. But he still gratified the local public with some “homemade” leg kicks like his left-handed lasso forehand and showed his ease in movement.
After 347 days of forced abstinence, Nadal returned to the joys of the Tour for 1 hour 14 minutes. The Manacori also found a routine that he had missed: the morning warm-up, the entry into the arena, the applause of full stands for a “single” double, the draw at the net or the look of his family in the stands.
Rafael Junior, one and a half years old, also made the trip to the antipodes to see his dad begin what could be his last dance. Even if Nadal, who has repeatedly come out of nowhere, leaves the door open to all options, the Spaniard could end his career in 2024.
“The problem, when I say that this will be my last season, is that I cannot predict 100% what will happen in the future,” he explained at a press conference before the start of the tournament. Obviously the percentage (chance) is high that this will be the last time I play here in Australia (…) But if I’m here next year, don’t tell me: “you said this would be your final season,” because I didn’t say it. »
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