Rafael Nadal returned to court for the first time since January at the Brisbane Open on Sunday and was defeated in a doubles match, but overall showed no obvious after-effects of the hip injury that has blighted his senior year.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner, preparing for the Australian Open between January 14 and 28, suffered a hip injury in a second-round defeat at Melbourne Park in early 2023 and ended his season early after undergoing surgery in June.
Nadal teamed up again with retired veteran Marc López, with whom he won the Olympic gold medal in 2016, for his comeback, but the pair lost 6-4 and 6-4 to Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in the Pai Arena full to the rafters.
“It’s good to see Rafa again,” Thompson said. “I’ve been on the other side a few times on the singles circuit, so it was nice to have him back on the doubles court.”
Nadal, 37, received a warm welcome from fans who hoisted Spanish flags and messages of support. The biggest applause went to his traditional left jabs and the powerful backhand that crossed the court to take the point in the first set.
Source: Terra
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