Tennis legend, Rafael Nadal, lost to Jordan Thompson in a 3 hours and 25 minute marathon quarterfinal match at the Brisbane International in January 2024, ending his comeback to tennis. In an exhausting match that ended just shy of midnight at Pat Rafter Arena, Thompson defeated weary Rafael Nadal after saving three match points in the second set. It was a bad day for Nadal. We will review the details of the game below.
Match Overview
Rafael Nadal lost in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International to Jordan Thompson of Australia due to his inability to secure three match points; the tennis idol had surgery in June after missing a full year due to a hip injury; he experienced pain during the game and asked for a medical timeout in the third set. Nadal was doing well in the first set and scored first; however, too many mishaps happened during the match. We will review the performance of both players in the sections below.
It’s interesting to note that Nadal and Thompson have faced off twice on the ATP Tour, with both meetings taking place in amazing Paris. In 2020, the first one took place at the Paris Masters, where Nadal won with a score of 6-1 7-6 (3). The second one took place at Roland Garros in 2022, and Nadal won the battle yet again. The third encounter did not work out so well for Rafa.
Nadal’s Performance
Rafa is a tennis legend. However, he had a bad year before the Brisbane match with two surgeries and a long recovery period. He experienced harsh moments during the game and even had to take medical timeouts in the third set, as we’ve mentioned already. Taking into account the fact that Nadal has recently announced the possible end of his career, his health has been seriously damaged. He did show great performance during the match, but a younger player with great tennis skills managed to win the day.
Thompson’s Performance
At the Brisbane International, Jordan Thompson secured one of his most memorable victories to date by saving three match points against the returning Rafael Nadal.
Though Nadal was doing great during the opening set, Thompson pushed through with his aggressive gameplay and kept his opponent on the move. His furious approach did work. By the second set, Nadal was already exhausted from the attack. Thompson used a well-placed cross-court forehand to save a third match point. He then depended on his own outstanding shot-making to win two lengthy rallies and win the second set in 83 minutes. After the medical timeout for Nadal in the third set, it was clear the result of the match would be favorable for Jordan. The Australian defeated the 22-time Grand Slam champion with the final score of 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3. After the game, Thompson moved into the semifinal against Grigor Dimitrov.
Crowd and Atmosphere
Of course, the atmosphere of the match was vibrant and intense. The course of the game shifted to an expected direction.
Fan Reactions
Most tennis fans were deeply concerned about Nadal and his health. Most comments shared under news reviews and posts read that people were keeping their fingers crossed for Nadal’s health. Of course, punters who placed their wagers on Nadal were devastated as well.
Impact on Players
Of course, Nadal was frustrated by the match. The championship was supposed to be his triumphant comeback after a whole year of recovery and dark thoughts that came with it. He tried to perform his best, but he was obviously in a much worse shape than Thompson.
Prediction and Betting
Most experts and oddsmakers were sure that Nadal would win the game. For example, analytical tools used by Australian experts gave Nadal a 84-86% chance of winning over Thompson. Tennis odds are based on thorough analysis and are usually quite accurate; however, unexpected results do happen, of course. This was exactly the case.
Post-Match Reactions
The result of the match was unpredictable. After missing a year of action due to a hip injury, Rafael returned to the game in January 2024 and successfully defeated Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler. This was a great start! However, in a much more intense match against Jordan Thompson, he was unable to repeat his winning performance.
Nadal’s Comments
Nadal admitted it was a good and decent game for Thompson but it was not the best match for him. He said the result was foreseeable as he has not played for almost a year due to health issues. He suffered some bad moments during the match and was not sure if the injury was a serious one or a consequence of a supercharged muscle.
Thompson’s Comments
Jordan Thompson admitted that Rafa Nadal had been his true idol ever since he started playing tennis. This victory was a great deal for Jordan. He was so overwhelmed with the game that he said he even forgot he saved match-points. This game was obviously one of the most notable ones in his career. He claimed it was an honor for him to share the court with the legendary Rafa Nadal.
+ There are no comments
Add yours