Rafael Nadal Puts Record-Breaking Comeback Win Aside to Back Fallen Rival Dominic Thiem -‘See Him in a Much Higher..’

Dominic Thiem established himself in the top echelons on the men’s tour after his Grand Slam triumph at the 2020 US Open. However, the former world No. 3 player’s competitive journey saw a decline owing to his injury woes, as he has been struggling to find his best levels on the court. Even at the start of this new season, the Austrian tennis star couldn’t start his campaign on a high note.

Thiem tasted a first-round defeat at the hands of Rafael Nadal in their matchup at the Brisbane International. In light of his recent lackluster performances, there is a lot of skepticism surrounding the 30-year-old player’s form. However, despite all this, Thiem recently received a major boost from his Spanish colleague.

Rafael Nadal on how Dominic Thiem can climb up the rankings

After his season-long injury absence, the ‘King of the Clay’ has made a stellar return at the Brisbane International. Rafael Nadal won an engrossing first-round match against Dominic Thiem as he clinched a straight-set victory, 7-5, 6-1, in an hour and 29 minutes. In doing so, the Spaniard has now surpassed the tennis veteran Ivan Lendl for most singles match wins.

In the post-match press conference, the 22-time singles Grand Slam champion, who had not played since the 2023 Australian Open, was asked about his Austrian opponent’s recent struggles on the court. Further, Nadal was also questioned if he had any advice that he could offer to Thiem, who has been trying to find his optimum levels for the past two seasons.

In his honest response, the Spaniard revealed that he believes Thiem can climb up the rankings if he manages to recover confidence in himself. He said, “I think the first set he had been playing at not a very good level of tennis. I think if he is able to win matches and to recover the confidence in himself, I don’t see him being in a ranking close to 100, no, I see him in a much higher ranking, honestly.”

During the conversation, the former world No. 1 player also shed light on Thiem’s injury woes, which had a drastic effect on his performances and rankings.

Nadal sheds light on Thiem’s injury woes

The former US Open champion has had a terrible last few seasons dealing with injuries, and as a result, his rankings have suffered, and he is considered by many experts to be a shadow of his former self. Notably, the Spanish tennis legend opened up about how it has been ‘tough’ for Thiem after his injury issues.

READ MORE- ‘You Can Tell He’s Not a Poser’- Roger Federer Fans Set to Embrace Young Kid Carlos Alcaraz After His Graceful Act at Indian Wells

“Well, I think for him it’s been a tough beginning after the injury. That makes things very difficult for him at the beginning,” Nadal said in the press conference after his brilliant comeback win in Australia.

What do you think of the Austrian tennis star receiving a major boost from his Spanish opponent, Nadal? Let us know in the comments section.

Watch this story – ‘Why Is His Brother Taking a Video..Sweet Home Alabama?’ – Tennis Fans React Hilariously to Unearthed Novak Djokovic Underwear Photo