Rafael Nadal Ending 7-Year Hiatus Sends One Fan Into Tears in Emotional Scenes at Brisbane

It was the year 2017. Rafael Nadal geared up for the Australian Open by playing a warm-up tournament in Brisbane. He reached the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International, before losing against Milos Raonic in the last-eight clash. Seven years after his appearance at that event, Nadal is set to make a comeback at this tournament. Ahead of his return, he made a special appearance that left one fan emotional.

The Spanish tennis legend is returning to the sport after a lengthy injury layoff. He hasn’t played professional tennis for a year now, with his last appearance coming at the Australian Open. As a result, his fans are eagerly awaiting to watch him in action.

Emotions flow during the appearance of Rafael Nadal

Ahead of the 2024 Brisbane International, a special event was organized where Nadal participated. He took time out from his busy schedule to enthrall fans with his special appearance. Nadal drew in a massive crowd and greeted his fans cheerfully. Further, he even captured a selfie with his fans, who were very vocal while greeting the former World Number 1.

The local crowd duly missed Nadal as he hasn’t played in this city since 2017. As a result, one of the fans in the crowd turned emotional, pouring out tears of joy, at having Nadal back in action in Brisbane. Meanwhile, some fans welcomed Nadal back on the tour with colorful banners.

Subsequently, addressing the crowd, Nadal said, “Australia always has been a very special place for me… At the end for me, just being here is a victory. It’s gonna be a tough process in the beginning.”

Not just the fans but also his fellow players have expressed excitement over his comeback. As a result, there have been high hopes for Nadal to dig deep in the coming tournaments. Russian WTA star, Daria Kasatkina, also expressed her fondness for Nadal.

What did Kasatkina say about Nadal?

During an interview, Kasatkina expressed joy at Nadal’s comeback in 2024. Like the fans, The Russian tennis player reverberated the sentiment surrounding his return to the sport. Kasatkina had an interesting opinion on Nadal, as the interviewer quizzed her on the Spanish legend’s comeback.

DIVE DEEPER: Despite Rafael Nadal’s ‘Winning Gene’, Veteran ATP Star Makes a Realistic Take On His Compatriot’s Return

Talking about Nadal, she said, “I’m already happy that he’ll come back. It’s amazing how he proves it every time. Everyone writes him off, but every time he comes back like a phoenix and wins something. It’s totally unbelievable.”

Rafael Nadal has been awarded a wildcard entry for the Brisbane International. The draw for the ATP 250 event takes place tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see how Nadal performs in his comeback tournament.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘Why Is His Brother Taking a Video..Sweet Home Alabama?’ – Tennis Fans React Hilariously to Unearthed Novak Djokovic Underwear Photo