Rafael Nadal beats Jason Kubler in Brisbane International to reach 225th quarter-final of his career

The Spaniard defeated Thiem in the opening round.

Rafael Nadal, the 22-time grand slam champion and former world no.1, has once again proven his mettle on the tennis court. After a year-long hiatus due to a hip injury, Nadal has made an impressive comeback at the Australian Open lead-up event – Brisbane International 2024.

The Spaniards return to the court was marked by a resounding victory over localite Jason Kubler, with a score line of 6-1, 6-2. This win propelled him into the quarterfinals, a stage he hadn’t reached since Wimbledon in 2022, almost 18 months ago. His triumphant return was further solidified with a decisive win over US Open 2020 champion and former world no.3, Dominic Thiem, in the opening round.

This quarter-final marks a significant milestone in Nadal’s illustrious career – it is the 225th tour-level quarterfinals he has reached. He had to end his season prematurely last year due to the same hip injury, for which he underwent surgery in June.

Awaiting Nadal in the last eight is another formidable opponent, Australian player Jordan Thompson. The two are no strangers to each other’s games, having faced off in a doubles match just this past Sunday. Thompson, along with compatriot Max Purcell, emerged victorious against Nadal and his partner Marc Lopez.

In their previous singles encounters, Nadal has come out on top, winning both matches in straight sets. However, with Thompson’s recent performance, the upcoming match promises to be an exciting one. Entering the tournament ranked No.672, Nadal’s successful run is projected to catapult his ranking to around top 450s.

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