Tuesday, January 2, 2024 is a notable day in the world of tennis. Rafa Nadal is back on the courts after almost a year due to injuryand he did it in a big way, with a solid victory (7-5, 6-1) against an always complicated opponent like Dominic Thiem.
The Spaniard is the living image of happiness after a meeting where he once again received the love of his thousands of fans. But It wasn’t just the fans who were happy to see the former world number 1 in action again.
The two best tennis players today, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz did not take long to send their congratulatory messages. First is the Murcian, who commented on Nadal’s publication in the following words. “It’s great to see you back on the court Rafa!“.
After a few minutes Djokovic who remembered his historical rival. “Welcome” he wrote in an Instagram storymaking it clear that the human factor and sportsmanship trump any sporting rivalry.
“This is a good start. It’s true that after so long, after a year, I played very well and especially with everything that happened and the circumstances in which I got here,” Nadal recalled after a match in which he admitted he felt a “very positive” feeling.
“I have a good day. I played very solid, almost infallible. “I didn’t make any bad decisions,” he said.
Nadal does not set short-term goals. Just competition. “If I’m competitive again, great. It will also be a surprise. That’s my only goal, to be competitive for a few months. “You have to go every day,” Nadal said. “It just became a fight.”
The Spanish tennis player He emphasized that the match against Thiem was “very positive but we will see next time”. “If I can train at the level I need and play matches, the chances are higher to be competitive again soon, but if I have problems again everything will be more complicated, more difficult,” said by Nadal.
“The main and priority for me is to be healthy“, emphasized the Spaniard who achieved victory number 1,069 on the circuit against Thiem, which saw him surpass Ivan Lendl and put himself in fourth place on the all-time men’s list.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
