Purcell/Thompson crash Nadal’s return in Brisbane

After nearly 12 months away, Rafael Nadal is back competing on the ATP Tour.

Yet the 92-time tour-level titlist will have to wait a little longer for his first victory of the 2024 season after Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson defeated Marc Lopez and Nadal 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday at the Brisbane International presented by Evie.

Nadal, playing in his first competitive match since his 2023 Australian Open defeat to Mackenzie McDonald after a series of injuries, moved well throughout the first-round match and showcased some sharp returning and clean ballstriking from deep. That was not enough to deny Australian duo Purcell and Thompson, however, who delivered a rock-solid serving display and did not face a break point en route to their 64-minute victory.

“It’s great to see Rafa back,” said Thompson in his on-court interview. “I’ve been on the receiving end [from him] a couple of times in singles so it’s nice to get him back on a doubles court. [When I played him at Roland Garros in 2022], I actually said at the shake of hands, ‘It was a pleasure, but it wasn’t fun’.”

Purcell added: “It was super fun. I guess it’s not 2024 yet, but it was nice to start the new season with a win and hopefully I can bring some of that into my singles tomorrow.”

The 37-year-old Nadal cut a relaxed figure as he lined up alongside his coach Marc Lopez, with whom he won Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Despite the result, Nadal will hope his first match back can lay the foundation for a strong singles run in Brisbane, where he will take on former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem in the first round.

Another former World No. 1, Andy Murray, also fell to doubles defeat in Brisbane. Murray and Holger Rune led 5/2 in the Match Tie-break but were unable to stop Aslan Karatsev and Roman Safiullin from rallying to a 4-6, 6-3, 10/5 victory.

Popyrin edges O’Connell in all-Aussie Brisbane opener
In Brisbane singles action, Alexei Popyrin earned a nailbiting win to kick-start his 2024 season on Sunday when he prevailed 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(4) against his fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell.

Popyrin won 81 per cent (55/68) of points behind his first serve en route to notching his maiden main-draw victory in Brisbane at the second attempt. The 24-year-old World No. 40, who lifted his second ATP Tour title in Umag in July, will take on third seed Ben Shelton or Roman Safiullin next at the hard-court ATP 250.

Alexander Shevchenko also advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph against Luca Van Assche. Shevchenko, who ended his 2023 season by reaching his first ATP Tour final in Metz, will take on top seed Holger Rune or Max Purcell next as he chases a quarter-final berth on Brisbane debut.