THE SMILE SAYS IT ALL 😀 @RafaelNadal is BACK, he defeats Dominic Thiem in straight sets, 7-5 6-1 😮💨 #BrisbaneTennis
"I don't see him being in a ranking close to 100": Rafael Nadal sees future resurgence for Dominic Thiem after Brisbane clash
ATPWednesday, 03 January 2024 at 10:00
Former World No.1 Rafael Nadal made his triumphant return to the ATP tour at the ongoing Brisbane International, where he defeated a lively Dominic Thiem in straight sets to win his first match in almost a year.
Nadal recorded a 7-5 6-1 victory over his Austrian foe, displaying little rust as he delighted the crowd with his trademark shots and defensive prowess. Following his win, the Spaniard was full of praise for Thiem, stating the 2020 US Open champion would soon regain his old form.
Confidence is key for Thiem's return to the top, says Nadal
"I think for him it's been a tough beginning after the injury," said Nadal after the match. "That makes things very difficult for him at the beginning, no? Because I don't know if when he came back he was healthy enough to play, to feel himself playing free. And that probably affected him a lot at the beginning losing a lot of matches in a row. Then it's tough to recover the confidence. Not only recover your level of tennis, it's about recovering the confidence. I think the last year has been a positive year for him because after a tough time, he was able to come back to top 100. Something that is not easy.
"I think he started the year again with the ambition to make a positive year & to finish the year with a much higher ranking. I think that is something that should happen if he is healthy... I think if he is able to win matches & to recover the confidence in himself, I don't see him being in a ranking close to 100, no. I see him in a much higher ranking, honestly."
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