Nadal’s comeback draw was drawn in Brisbane

The Spanish tennis player and former world number 1 Rafael Nadal He still has no definite rival for his reappearance in the ATP 250 on hard courts in Brisbane after a year’s absence as his first round opponent was a tennis player from the previous round, who was still playing, determined by the draw to be held in the Australian city.

If he wins his first match, the Balearic player will face the Russian in the round of 16 Aslan Karatsev (35º) or the Australian Jason Kubler (102nd). The French Ugo Humbert (20th) in the quarterfinals and the second favorite, the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (14th), in the semifinals they will be the theoretical opponents. Dimitrov and the Scotsman Andy Murraythe other former number 1 in the table, will answer the most interesting first round clash.

The danish Holger Rune (8th), the tournament’s top seed, and the Americans Ben Shelton (17th) and Sebastian Korda (24th) is at the top of the table and would be Nadal’s only rivals in a hypothetical final, although the tennis player from Manaco has greatly reduced expectations about his performance because he really does not know at what level he can offer from the start of his return to the court. .

“I feel better than I expected a month ago, but I don’t expect much after a year without being on the court. It’s impossible to think about winning tournaments at the moment. What’s possible is to enjoy the return,” Nadal said in Brisbane, continuing his remarks calling for caution before traveling to the Australia.

Rafa, 37 years old and winner of 22 titles of grand slam, feels he is entering “uncharted territory” when he reappears on the circuit after a year out due to injury. The Balearic tennis player is back in competition after feeling recovered from the iliopsoas surgery on his left leg that he underwent in June.

“Me and I’m afraid to announce things because it’s a year without competing and it’s a hip operation, but what worries me the most is not the hip, but everything else. I’m afraid to want to express something uncertainly at the time.” 100% I think I’m prepared and confident and I hope things go well, I want to give myself the opportunity to enjoy the court again,” Nadal said a few weeks ago.

Nadal has not competed since the Australian Open in January, when discomfort in his hip worsened and he lost in the second round to the American. Mackenzie McDonald (6-4, 6-4, 7-5), today was his last official match.

The manacorí then began another medical journey in search of a solution because he did not want an injury to end his career. “I don’t think I deserve to end up like this,” he said months ago.

Finally, he had to undergo surgery and now he is ready to return to the circuit. Nadal is confident that he will be competitive, but he sincerely expressed that he has doubts about what will actually happen to him.

Osaka, another remarkable comeback

In the women’s group, a WTA 500will also make a resounding return, the former number 1 Naomi Osaka, returned to the slopes after 15 months away after maternity leave. The Japanese will debut against the German Tamara Korpatsch and, if they win, they will face the Czech in the second round Karolina Pliskova.

The Spanish Cristina Bucsa will debut against the Belgians Say hello to Minnen. The Belarusian Aryna Sabalenkaworld no. 2, and the Kazakh Elena Rybakina (4th) are the two main favorites for the title. The 16 seeds in the women’s team are exempt from the first round.

Brisbane ATP

Main 1st round matches

Rafa Nadal (ESP/wc)-qually
​Holger Rune (Din/1)-Max Purcell (Aus)
​Grigor Dimitrov (Bul/2)-Andy Murray (Esc)
Ben Shelton (USA/3)-Roman Safiullin (Rus)
Ugo Humbert (Fra/4)-qualy
​Sebastian Korda (USA/5)-Yannick Hanfmann (Ale)
​Sebastián Báez (Arg/6)-qually
​Tomás M. Etcheverry (Arg/7)-qual
​Aslan Karatsev (Rus/8)-Jason Kubler (Aus/wc)