Nadal: ‘It’s a day to be happy’

Rafael Nadal’s return to ATP Tour action after 12 months away could barely have been more impressive.

Yet with the long road back from a series of injuries still fresh in the Spaniard’s mind, he is not getting carried away after beating Dominic Thiem in straight sets Tuesday at the Brisbane International presented by Evie.

“The first thing, and I repeat it, is to stay healthy,” said Nadal in his post-match press conference at the hard-court ATP 250. “If I am able to stay healthy, I am able to practise at the level that I need to practise. If I'm able to play matches feeling myself ready to play the match, then the chances of being competitive in a [short] period of time are much higher.

“If after tomorrow you go on court and you have problems, then the process is much tougher. For me the main thing is stay healthy. I really think that I didn't forget how to play tennis. The only thing that's going to be difficult to make it in a professional match and in a very high level of tennis. Because at the end, you need to recover movement, something that takes time.”

Nadal has appeared in excellent physical shape so far in Brisbane, where he moved freely throughout his first-round doubles and singles matches. He reiterated there is still plenty of work to be done to return to his best level, but acknowledged his 7-5, 6-1 triumph in his 16th Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Thiem was a positive start to his comeback.

“You need to recover the confidence and the movements, that takes time,” said Nadal, who meets home favourite Jason Kubler next in Brisbane. “Because at the end after the surgery, you feel scared sometimes to do a kind of movement and you need to recover the speed and reading the ball and [doing] things in automatic way… You need hours on court, hours in a practice session, but at the same time hours in professional matches.

“I [didn’t] know what could happen today. It's a day to be happy. A happy day for me. I have a day off tomorrow to keep practising. I am excited to have the chance to play another time. That's for me the most important thing.”

He's back.@RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/zl9W8YVxK6

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2024

Nadal had some encouraging words for his former Top 3 rival Thiem, who is also looking to work his way back into the tennis elite. The Austrian, who missed 10 months across 2021 and 2022 due to a wrist injury, is currently No. 98 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“I think the last year has been a positive year for him because after a tough time, he was able to come back to the Top 100,” said Nadal. “Something that is not easy. I think he starts the year again with the ambition to make a positive year and to finish the year with a much higher ranking. That, I think, is something that should happen if he is healthy.

“I think the first set he played at a very good level of tennis. I think if he is able to win matches and to recover the confidence in himself, I don't see him being in a ranking close to 100. I see him in a much higher ranking, honestly.”