ATP Brisbane: reunion with Rafael Nadal and two old friends
At the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Brisbane, some stars of the scene return after a long break. There is also an Australian veteran in the double tableau.
by tennisnet
last edit:
Dec 29, 2018, 03:20 pm
Finally action on the ATP tour - and in Brisbane, as in previous years, an illustrious field has gathered again. Led by Rafael Nadal, who just made his comeback in Abu Dhabi after several months of injury. Not a successful one from a sporting point of view, but the Spaniard will be able to cope with the three-set loss to Kevin Anderson - after all, there were no ATP points available.
The game for third place against Karen Khachanov was canceled by Nadal, for Brisbane the world number two declared himself fit. In round one, Nadal enjoys a walk-through, as does Kei Nishikori, Kyle Edmund and Daniil Medvedev. At the start of the new tennis year, Nadal could already meet another veteran - namely Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The Frenchman entered the tableau with his protected ranking, as did Andy Murray. The Scotsman opened against local hero James Duckworth.
Lleyton Hewitt competes in doubles
Defending champion Nick Kyrgios opens, if he can compete after his spider bite, in a reissue of the 2018 final against Ryan Harrison from the USA - and could meet the only German in the grid of 28 in round two: Jan-Lennard Struff. However, he must first prevail against Jeremy Chardy.
As so often, a look at the double draw is also worthwhile in Brisbane: on the one hand, because the Bryans are now back together at the start, naturally placed in position one. Even more interesting, however, is the name that is brushed into the penultimate line alongside Alex de Minaur: Lleyton Hewitt, the indestructible Australian Davis Cup captain. The opponents of the two home favorites? Jan-Lennard Struff and Ben McLachlan.