(VIDEO) Rafael Nadal turns into 'prime Zidane' during doubles return at Brisbane International

Rafael Nadal returned to play an official match at the ATP 250 Brisbane International, teaming up with retired Marc Lopez, his partner in winning the Olympic gold in Rio 2016. The Spanish pair lost to Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in two sets, with a score of 6-4 and 6-4.

It was Nadal's first on-court appearance in an official match before his upcoming singles debut against Dominic Thiem, scheduled for this Tuesday at the Brisbane tournament. During the match, Nadal once again showcased his soccer skills by passing the ball to a ball kid with his foot:

“Missed Rafa turning into prime Zidane routinely”

In his return to the courts in Brisbane, Rafael Nadal appeared smiling and determined just hours before facing his comeback in singles, against none other than the 2020 US Open champion, Dominic Thiem (world No. 98). Precisely a few days ago, they played a practice set.

Nadal currently leads the head-to-head (h2h) record 9-6, including two French Open finals (2018 and 2019) and the finals of the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, both in 2017. Since winning his first Grand Slam, Thiem suffered a serious injury, and in the last year since returning to the Tour, he hasn't found his best form, although this time he managed to overcome the tournament's qualifying rounds with two impressive comebacks against James McCabe (No. 278) and Guido Zeppieri (No. 135).

The 22-times Grand Slam champion is gearing up for the upcoming Australian Open as the first major goal of the year. Nadal commented in a press conference after the doubles match that he isn't entirely certain if it will be his last AO, a tournament he claimed victory in 2009 and 2022: "The problem with saying it's going to be my last season is that I can't predict what's going on 100% in the future."

"It's obvious it's a high percentage that it's going to be my last time playing in Australia," former world No. 1 added. “But if I'm here next year, don't tell me, 'You said it's going to be your last season,' because I didn't say it,” Rafa Nadal concluded.