By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, January 1, 2024
Brisbane is a Bulls-Eye ahead of Rafael Nadal's singles return.
Former world No. 1 Nadal makes his long-awaited singles return on Tuesday taking on former US Open champion Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International.
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Nike, which has been Nadal's clothing and shoe sponsor since before he turned pro, celebrated the king of clay's comeback.
The swoosh brand posted this video of Nadal's iconic bull logo lighting up the Brisbane skyline like Batman's Bat logo brightening the Gotham City night.
"Good feelings to be back. I think that's why I decided to be here the first week of the season. I decided to be here on my comeback because I had positive feelings from the past," Nadal told the media in Brisbane. "I wanted to come back in a place that was familiar for me and place that bring me back to good memories."
The 37-year-old Spanish superstar said while Brisbane and the Australian Open, which starts on January 14th, is probably his farewell to Australia, he left the door open to continuing to compete if his body cooperates.
"It's obvious that it's a high percentage that's going to be my last time playing here in Australia," Nadal said. "But if I am here next year, don't tell me, You said going to be your last season, because I didn't say it (smiling). I just say have been an important percentage.
"You never know what's going on, you know? I can't predict how I going to be in the next six months. I can't predict if my body will allow me to enjoy tennis as much as I enjoyed the past 20 years. I don't know if my body will allow me to be competitive...
"You never know what's my approach because at the end I went through a lot to be back on a tennis court. It's not an easy decision, but I know inside myself that is a high percentage it's going to be my last one."
Photo credit: Brisbane International Facebook