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Rafael Nadal’s comeback at the Brisbane International will continue after the 37-year-old secured a 7-5 6-1 win over Dominic Thiem in the first round. The Spaniard is making a return from a year-long injury lay-off, and seemed in good shape from a physical standpoint.
Nadal’s athleticism against Thiem would have alleviated the concerns of his supporters, as the Spaniard covered the court well in the match. Thiem tested Nadal’s court coverage by playing shots repeatedly into the open court, but the latter did well to get to the ball on most occasions.
Moreover, Nadal also hit his backhand well in the match, which is usually an indicator of the kind of rhythm he is in. The Spaniard will take some stopping in the tournament, as he looks hungry for success after a long hiatus.
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He will want to have a good run in the tournament ahead of the much-awaited Australian Open.
Who is Rafael Nadal's next opponent?
Australia’s Jason Kubler will be Rafael Nadal’s next opponent. This will be the very first meeting between them.
Kubler, playing on home soil, defeated Aslan Karatsev in the first round, as the latter withdrew midway through the match owing to an injury. The Australian dealt with Karatsev’s fierce groundstrokes pretty well in the match.
The 30-year-old Kubler is ranked 102nd in the world at the moment. He had a decent win-loss record of 25-19 last year. Kubler had the most success on grass, with a win-loss record of 8-4 on the surface.
Rafael Nadal vs Jason Kubler match schedule
The two are up second at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane on Thursday. The match will begin at around 6:30 P.M. local time.
Date: January 4, 2024 (Australia, UK & India), January 3, 2024 (USA & Canada).
Time: 6:30 p.m. local time, 8:30 a.m. GMT, 2:00 am IST and 3:30 p.m. ET (expected).
Rafael Nadal vs Jason Kubler streaming details
Viewers from the following countries can watch the match live on their respective channels and sites:
Tennis Channel: USA
Sky Sports : UK
TSN : Canada
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
