Former world number one singles tennis player, Spanish Rafael Nadal and his coach Marc Lopez failed to make it to the second round of the ATP-250 tournament in Brisbane, Australia.
Nadal, 37, and Lopez, 41, who received a special invitation to participate in the event, lost to the host pair, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, 4-6, 4-6. The opponents spent one hour and 13 minutes on court.
Tennis. ATP-250. Brisbane. Doubles. First round
Rafael Nadal/Marc Lopez (Spain) - Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson (Australia) - 4:6, 4:6
The game was the first for the 37-year-old Nadal since January 2023: the Spaniard suffered an iliopsoas muscle injury at the Australian Open, which caused him to miss the 2023 season. Nadal will start the singles tournament with a match against Austria's Dominic Thiem.