PREVIEW | 2024 Brisbane International Day Three including return of Rafael NADAL, AZARENKA, KENIN, ANDREEVA and KORDA

The third day of action at the Brisbane International is headlined by the return of a Spanish lynchpin as Rafael Nadal takes his first steps back into singles action after nearly a year out. He faces Dominic Thiem in a highly anticipated contest.

Our preview looks ahead to Day Three at the Brisbane International in both ATP and WTA with Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin and Mirra Andreeva among those also in action on Day Three.

After getting injured last year at the Australian Open, some didn't expect Nadal to return given the myriad of surgeries and procedures he tried to get himself right again. But in keeping with his on court style, he was not going out without a fight.

That fight begins on January 2 when he faces a player who has attempted a similar battle back albeit with less success in Dominic Thiem. A pairing who have played each other 15 times not including their practice set won by Nadal this past week 6-3. Thiem sealed the last two including a pivotal win at the 2020 Australian Open with Nadal mainly dominating the Austrian on clay including in the Roland Garros final back in 2019.

Nadal though unlike Thiem would probably retire as opposed to going down the road the latter has gone down after much success, he has heartbreakingly not been able to return to his best. But all eyes will be on Nadal in the Night Session, the rapturous applause he got entering the court just for doubles was breath-taking enough and he will now get it again for singles. Welcome back Rafa!

Pictured together in the Grand Slam champions aside from Rybakina photo, Victoria Azarenka and Sofia Kenin will also play on Tuesday albeit for the latter against Aussie ace Arina Rodionova who will hope to rubber stamp a wildcard for Melbourne.

A place that Kenin had her best triumph and she is playing her best since then. An under the radar comeback in many ways over the past year, Kenin could stand to be seeded by the time the Australian Open rolls around given she is currently in the top 40 and given her slide down the rankings is only going up.

The American is also one of only a few that have had match practice so far in the 2024 season playing World Tennis League where she took the scalp of Aryna Sabalenka and was unbeaten in singles all week as well as forming a superb partnership with Mirra Andreeva for the winning Eagles team. A player with confidence and one who will look to make a statement on Tuesday.

As will Victoria Azarenka who at points in 2023 couldn't buy a win. Aside from reaching the Quarter-Finals in the depleted Guadalajara, she failed to get out of her second round for most of the second half of the season and was last injured retiring against Leylah Fernandez in Hong Kong who went on to win the tournament.

But Australia is a happy hunting ground for the Belarusian who reached the fourth round in 2022 and the semi-final last year, albeit she will now defend that points haul. She faces a player who will aim to banish injury troubles and that is Anna Kalinskaya.

Sebastian Korda will also open his account for 2024 when he takes on Yannick Hanfmann. Aussie's collide too in the second night session game as Kimberly Birrell faces Olivia Gadecki. On the outside courts if play happens due to rain, Mirra Andreeva, Ugo Humbert, Danielle Collins and Thanasi Kokkinakis are among the leading players to watch.