Rafael Nadal stands behind Novak Djokovic after passing Ivan Lendl

Rafael Nadal made a profitable begin to the season in Brisbane, defeating Dominic Thiem within the first spherical. It was Nadal’s first match in nearly a 12 months, scuffling with a hip harm and enjoying solely 4 encounters in 2023. Victory over Thiem was Nadal’s 1069th ATP triumph, lastly passing Ivan Lendl and becoming a member of Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the high of the record.

If issues have been higher, Rafa would have handed Ivan in the summertime of 2022. Nonetheless, he had struggled with accidents for nearly a 12 months and a half, barely scoring any wins and staying tied with the Czech for practically a 12 months. The Spaniard is lastly again on monitor, and we must always anticipate extra from him in the remainder of the season if he stays injury-free.

Nadal toppled Thiem 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 29 minutes, celebrating a milestone victory in fashion. Rafa didn’t know what to anticipate after probably the most prolonged break of his profession.

Nonetheless, he was able to get pleasure from on the court docket whatever the end result, comfortable to compete once more.

A 22-time Main winner did that and way more, delivering respectable tennis and outplaying his previous rival of their sixteenth duel on the Tour. Rafa performed effectively on serve and return, by no means dealing with points in his video games and breaking the rival’s resistance with three breaks on his tally.

Nadal fired up his preliminary shot proper from the beginning, dropping six factors in his video games and difficult Thiem to repeat these numbers. Dominic stayed in contact early on earlier than dropping floor within the opening set’s closing levels. He misplaced the bottom within the second set, propelling Rafa into the second spherical after getting damaged thrice.

Rafa tamed his strokes properly, avoiding errors and overlaying the court docket properly. His serve and groundstrokes labored effectively, and the legend left the court docket with a giant smile.

Rafael Nadal scored his 1069th ATP victory in Brisbane.

The Spaniard kicked off the motion like he by no means made a break from tennis, holding at love within the encounter’s first recreation.

The Austrian locked the end result at 1-1 with an ace earlier than the veteran secured a maintain at love a couple of minutes later with a volley winner. Thiem leveled the rating at 2-2 with a volley winner, and Nadal constructed one other lead after passing his opponent on the web within the subsequent one.

They stayed neck and neck within the upcoming video games, with Dominic locking the end result at 4-4 after 33 minutes. Nadal fired an ace in recreation 9 for 5-4, forcing Thiem to serve to remain within the set. Dominic responded with a forehand down the road winner, staying in contact and searching good to achieve a tie break.

Rafa delivered one other wonderful maintain in recreation 11, cracking a forehand down the road winner and sending the strain again to Dominic’s aspect. Thiem felt the strain at 5-6 and manifested it. He confronted three set factors and defended them with good hitting, hoping to get out of jail.

As an alternative, Nadal earned his fourth set level with a forehand winner and transformed it after the rival’s forehand error, clinching the opener 7-5 after 55 minutes and gaining a lift. Not stopping there, Rafa produced a maintain at love at the start of the second set and saught the second consecutive break.

Nadal handed Thiem with a cracking backhand crosscourt winner in recreation two, incomes a break and increasing his streak. The Spaniard cemented it with a maintain at love in recreation three, wanting ruthless behind the preliminary shot. Thiem ended his downfall with a maintain in recreation 4 earlier than Nadal held within the subsequent one from 15-30 to open a 4-1 hole.

Rafa positioned a deep return in recreation six for a break level, wanting keen to interrupt the rival’s resistance. He transformed it after Dominic’s forehand error, incomes his third break and serving for the victory at 5-1.

Nadal sealed the cope with a sensitive winner on the web, celebrating a notable victory after lacking nearly a 12 months.

Thus, Rafa lastly moved in entrance of Ivan Lendl, standing 20 ATP wins behind his closest rival, Novak Djokovic. Jimmy Connors leads the chart with 1274 ATP wins, and Roger Federer follows him with 1251. Nadal might not play lengthy sufficient to catch them, however we must always see him and Djokovic passing the 1100-win mark in the remainder of the season.

Rafa sailed by way of uncharted waters after such an extended break, not understanding what to anticipate from his physique. He wished to play a farewell tour in 2024 and compete at his favourite occasions earlier than ending his wonderful profession. Now, issues are wanting a lot better for a 22-time Main winner, and we must always see extra from him within the subsequent 12 months or two if he stays aggressive and avoids accidents. Rafa will face Jason Kubler within the second spherical in Brisbane, hoping for one more good efficiency.