"What a joy to see you again!" - Carlos Alcaraz lauds Rafael Nadal's winning start in Brisbane after year-long hiatus

Good wishes continue to pour in for Rafael Nadal following his scintillating comeback victory on the ATP Tour after a 12-month hiatus, with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz becoming the latest to shower him with praise.

Nadal celebrated his long-awaited return to the tour on Tuesday with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over former US Open champion Dominic Thiem. It may have been his first competitive singles match in 349 days, but the Spaniard put in a high-caliber performance in front of a jam-packed arena in Brisbane.

His return caused a stir and current World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz echoed everybody's sentiments with a tribute to his idol. Speaking in his native Spanish, Alcaraz lauded his compatriot for his impressive return.

"What a joy to see you again on track Rafa!" Carlos Alcaraz exclaimed.

Carlos Alcaraz reacts to Rafael Nadal's return - @rafaelnadal, Instagram

Earlier, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic also welcomed his rival back with a simple "welcome back" message coupled with a high-five emoji on his Instagram.

Nadal and Alcaraz last faced off on tour at the 2022 Madrid Open. It was Alcaraz then who ended up on top, winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Nadal, however, leads their head-to-head tally, winning their previous two encounters in Indian Wells and Madrid.

With Nadal likely to prioritize the clay swing, fans will be itching to see the two Spaniards face off again this year. A match between the two will likely be a great memory for both players involved but especially for Alcaraz, who grew up idolizing Nadal.

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Rafael Nadal reflects on "probably one of the toughest years" of his tennis career

Rafael Nadal speaks to the media at the 2024 Brisbane International - Getty Images

Rafael Nadal reflected on an emotional return to the tour during his on-court interview. Describing the past year as one of his "toughest," Nadal expressed immense pride at returning the way he did.

“Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career, without a doubt. I had the chance to come back after a year and play in front of an amazing crowd and play, I think, at a very positive level," Nadal said at the post-match press conference.

“On the first day, it is something that makes us feel proud. Myself, all the team and family that have been there every single day during the past year,” he added.

Nadal will take on Jason Kubler in the last 16 on Thursday as his preparation for the Australian Open beginning on January 14 continues in full flow.