(VIDEO) No rust for Rafael Nadal, hits sumptious forehand winner first point back after 349 days away
ATP
Rafael Nadal is back for the first time in 349 days and he showed no signs of rust with the superb sight of a forehand winner from the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
He faces Dominic Thiem on Tuesday morning in his first match of his comeback and against a former Grand Slam champion will be the real acid test surrounding his comeback to the sport after so long away.
But so far, so good for Nadal as he looks to be showing a good level already against Thiem. His coach, Carlos Moya admitted over the past day that he expects him to peak as of March and April time so the expectation isn't fully there yet.
But his peers including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic don't think he'd return to just get beaten and that he will be gunning for a return to his best. Will that happen? It all begins with Thiem and tennis fans will be delighted to see the superb forehand of the great Spaniard again.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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