ATP Brisbane: Nadal to face qualifier in comeback match

December 30, 2023

Second seed Grigor Dimitrov faces former world No 1 Andy Murray in a blockbuster first round clash

Rafael Nadal at the 2023 United Cup

Rafael Nadal will face a qualifier in his match back on the tour after 11 months away from the tour due to injuries. The possible opponents for Nadal in the first round include former US Open champion Dominic Thiem, former top 10 player Diego Schwartzman and American Maxime Cressy, who are all playing the qualifying draw.

The Spaniard has received a wild card into the main draw and after facing a qualifier, he will meet the winner of the match between eighth seed Aslan Karatsev and Australian wild card Jason Kubler.

Here is the possible path for Nadal in the Brisbane draw:

R1 – Qualifier
R2 – Karatsev/Kubler
QF – Humbert/Thompson
SF – Dimitrov/Etcheverry/Murray
F – Rune/Shelton/Korda/Baez

ATP Brisbane draw.

Very nice comeback draw for Rafael Nadal. pic.twitter.com/65wxjpU37H
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) December 30, 2023

Nadal is in the bottom half of the draw and has fourth seed Ugo Humbert as a possible quarter-final opponent and then second seed Grigor Dimitrov as a possible semi-final draw.

Dimitrov v Murray to clash in a blockbuster first round clash

Dimitrov faces former world No 1 Andy Murray in a blockbuster first round match which will be a repeat of the 2013 Brisbane final which the Brit won. Murray leads their overall head-to-head by 8 wins against 4 losses.

Top seed Holger Rune faces Australia’s Max Purcell in the first round and is slated to meet fifth seed Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals. Third seed Ben Shelton is in the same section and has sixth seed Sebastian Baez in the last eight.

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