By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, January 5, 2024
Rafael Nadal unleashed his fear factor forehand earning three match points tonight.
The scary sight of Nadal trudging to the lockeroom for a medical time down 1-4 in the third set sent a hush over the Brisbane crowd.
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Ultimately, Nadal returned to court to complete a 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 loss to inspired Aussie Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International.
Thompson, who partnered compatriot Max Purcell to beat Nadal and his coach Marc Lopez in his Brisbane doubles opener, fought off three match points in the second set prevailing in a punishing three hour, 25-minute win.
Afterward, Nadal, who was playing his third match in his comeback from hip surgery last June, said he took treatment for his surgically-repaired hip.
However, Nadal is hopeful it’s a sore muscle, normal pain for a veteran after a 12-month layoff, rather than a tendon or joint issue.
“Is a very similar place to what happened last year, but different stuff, no? I feel more muscle,” Nadal told the media in Brisbane. “Last year was tendon. I feel the muscle tired. I mean, for sure is not the same like last year at all because when it happened last year, I felt something drastic immediately. Today I didn’t feel anything. The only problem is because the place is the same, you are a little bit more scared than usual.
“In ideal world, I mean, is just the muscle supercharged after a few days of effort and a very tough match. That’s will be the ideal thing, something that we know that can happen today. That is why I’m talking all the time that my goal is to try to be competitive in a few months.”
Good to have you back, Rafa 👋@RafaelNadal #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/V2ZRHzyrh8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 5, 2024
If the issue is more than muscle soreness, Nadal said he plans to undergo tests on the hip.
The 37-year-old Spanish superstar showed plenty of positive signs in his first tournament since undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery on his left psoas tendon back on June 2nd. Nadal was quick off the mark, moved well, unleashed his trademark crackling topspin forehand and was in position to reach his first Tour-level semifinal since the 2022 Wimbledon, but could not close.
The king of clay concedes he’s concerned by the overall state of his body given his age and mileage on his legs, but he’s also encouraged by a solid showing in Brisbane.
“From this perspective, you don’t know all…
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