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Rafael Nadal may have played down his chances of winning the Brisbane International or Australian Open as he returns to the court from almost a year off due to a hip injury but some impressive practice sessions have impressed other tennis stars.
- Rafael Nadal is returning from a hip injury that he suffered at the 2023 Australian Open
- Nadal played down his chances of winning tournament early in the week
- Holger Rune and Andy Murray say Nadal was in impressive form
World number eight Holger Rune described a practice session with the 37-year-old as one of his hardest of the last six months before the Spaniard had an intense Brisbane hit out with Andy Murray.
"After the practice I talked to my team, and I thought he played unbelievable," the 20-year-old Dane said.
"We were hitting and he was hitting strong.
"Then we started points and I thought he was moving very well, moving side to side extremely fast.
"The intensity he brings is incredible. Like, I've been playing I think a very intense pre-season and a very intense end of the season last year, and that was probably the hardest practice I've had the last half year."
As Rune was finishing up his press conference Nadal was going toe-to-toe with longtime rival Andy Murray in a practice session on Pat Rafter Arena.
In stifling, humid conditions, the 37-year-old Spaniard, his singlet glued to him looked to be in tremendous condition and had hardly a hitch in his movement as the two battled away.
Nadal did not face the media, having done so on Friday when he played down his hopes of tournament success, but Murray, who has come up with a horrid first round draw against Grigor Dimitrov did, and echoed the thoughts of top seed Rune.
"It's great to have him back playing," Murray said.
"Always very, very intense practices with him [and] he looked physically good and was playing well."
Murray said while some things had changed in the Nadal game, most had not and to change anything drastically would be folly.
"There's certain things he's probably doing, slightly different to earlier in his career," Murray said of the 22-times grand slam champion.
"His second serve is significantly harder than what he did earlier in his career but I mean, the rest of the game, unless there's a physical issue, there's not really much reason for him to make huge changes to that. It's been pretty successful.
"When he's fit and healthy, that game style is what has worked really, really well for him, looking for his forehand, trying to dominate with that shot.
"If he wants to be successful in the future, that's what he should be looking to do and that's how he was trying to play today."
Murray was not wrong with that observation and it was the Nadal forehand that produced a number of winners during their practice match as Murray remained resolute and held his own.
Those winners from the Spaniard drew gasps of awe, cheers and applause from fans in attendance, who seemed to yearn for a return to Nadal's best.
Murray said the hit out with Nadal was just what he needed after an off-season that involved illness and niggling knee and shoulder issues and that it sparked a desire for the 36-year-old Scot to make a deep run at a slam.
"It's great for me to get to play at that sort of intensity, play sets and matches against those guys," he said.
"Obviously I would like the opportunity to play against them again, ideally in the latter stages of big tournaments. That's something that I've missed."
Whether either of them get there in Australia the aging stars still have plenty of drawing power at this tournament as evidenced by the hundreds of fans who watched them practice, and while Murray has a tough draw, Nadal will play a qualifier in the opening round.