MOSCOW, December 31 Spaniard Rafael Nadal played the first match after injuries while playing doubles at a tournament in Brisbane, Australia, where the prize fund exceeds $1.7 million.
Previously, Nadal underwent arthroscopy in the area of the iliopsoas muscle in a clinic in Barcelona. The last time the tennis player took to the court was in January 2023 at the Australian Open. At the beginning of December, the Spaniard published a video on the social network X, in which he announced his return to the court. The tournament in Brisbane runs from December 31 to January 7.
Paired with compatriot Mark Lopez, with whom Nadal won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games, the Spaniard lost to Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson (4:6, 4:6) in the first round of the tournament.
Nadal is 37 years old, the Spaniard is a 22-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments, and has won Roland Garros a record 14 times.