Rafael Nadal makes winning return at Brisbane International

Rafael Nadal made a winning return to singles action after almost a year out with injuries, beating Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-1 at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.The 37-year-old Nadal made just six unforced errors and dropped only three points on his serve in the first set. He won eight of the last nine games to clinch victory in 89 minutes.Now ranked 672 in the world, Nadal said the last 12 months had been among the toughest of his professional career."Today, honestly, is an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career, without a doubt."To have 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 for the first day is something that makes us feel proud,” Nadal said in a post-match TV interview.The 'King of Clay' however, admitted that the result could very well have gone the other way."I know I have been practising okay in the last week, practising I think at a positive level. I'm talking with my hand on my heart and being very honest with all of you."You really at the end hope that you're going to play at this level, but inside yourself you know that it can be a disaster, and that, of course, worried me," he added.Nadal had not played singles since a second-round loss at the Australian Open last year. He underwent two rounds of hip surgery.The long lay-off raised fears his career could be over, but Nadal has said this week he was always determined to make it back for the 2024 season.He did admit though that there was "a high percentage" that it would be his last season, but left the door open to play on should his body hold up."I missed being healthy, I missed feeling competitive and to play in front of full crowds like this," Nadal added after beating Thiem.The 22-time Grand Slam champion made a low-key return on Sunday in a doubles match alongside countryman Marc Lopez, which they lost to Australian pair Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell.However, the focus had been on his singles return after organisers granted him a wildcard, with a full house in Pat Rafter Arena to give him a loud reception when he walked on court.Former world number three Thiem, who has had injury concerns of his own, came through qualifying to make the main draw and matched Nadal throughout the first set.But at 6-5 and with the set looking certain to go to a tiebreak, Nadal stepped up the pressure on Thiem's serve, forcing a series of errors and eventually winning the set when a Thiem forehand sailed long.Nadal then seized the advantage, holding his serve to love and then breaking Thiem to take a 2-0 lead in the second set.The Austrian's head then seemed to drop as Nadal lifted even further, wrapping up the match easily."I think the first set was very equal, both of us serving well and then I was able to have that break for 6-5," he said."I know Dominic has been going through hard times with injuries too, so happy to see him on court, wish him all the very best for the season."Earlier, fifth-seeded American Sebastian Korda and Argentinian sixth seed Sebastian Baez both crashed out.Germany's Yannick Hanfmann downed Korda 7-5, 6-4 while Baez lost to Lukas Klein, with the Slovakian qualifier winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.In the women's draw, former world number one Victoria Azarenka came back from second set jitters to see off Russia's Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 7-6 (10/8), while Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open winner, was stunned by Australian wildcard Arina Rodionova 7-5, 7-6 (9/7).With inputs from AFP