The wait is over! Rafael Nadal is finally back. After nearly a year, the 22-time Grand Slam champ is finally back in action. And the crowd at Brisbane International cheered in a similar manner. Walking out to thunderous applause, with everyone in the stands on their feet, Nadal acknowledged the love he was getting by waving to the crowd.
The star tennis player had suffered a hip injury during the Australian Open last year that had kept him out of action. Since his round of 64 loss to MacKenzie McDonald, his ranking has plummeted to 672.
However, using his protected ranking, Rafael Nadal has set up a blockbuster clash against a familiar foe, Dominic Thiem. The two have faced each other 15 times, with Nadal leading their rivalry 9-6. However, on the hard court, Thiem leads the head-to-head 2-1, including a 4-set win over Nadal at the Australian Open in 2020.
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