In his challenging return to the ATP Tour after nearly a year away due to injury, Rafael Nadal is set to face former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the opening round of the Brisbane International.
Thiem, a former world number three and two-time runner-up to Nadal in the French Open finals of 2018 and 2019, navigated through two demanding qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the main draw. Like Nadal, Thiem has grappled with injuries, experiencing a dip in his ranking to 352 in 2022 following a right wrist tear. His current ranking stands at 98.
The head-to-head record between the two players stands at 15 encounters, with Nadal emerging victorious in nine and Thiem in six. Notably, Thiem has claimed victory in their most recent two clashes at the ATP Tour Finals in 2020 and the Australian Open in the same year.
This anticipated matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, promising an intriguing showdown between the seasoned Nadal and the resilient Thiem.