Brisbane crows 'rub eyes' for Rafael Nadal's no-look smash

The Spanish champion won the point of the day with a fantastic shot


by LORENZO CIOTTI

Brisbane crows 'rub eyes' for Rafael Nadal's no-look smash
© Chris Hyde / Stringer Getty Images Sport

Rafael Nadal defeated the Australian tennis player Jason Kubler, No.102 in the ATP ranking, with a score of 6-1 6-2 in the round of 16 of the ATP 250 in Brisbane. On the Spaniard's path, therefore, there will be another Australian, Jordan Thompson, who took advantage of Ugo Humbert's retirement without playing.

In the first set Nadal's start is very high intensity. Great push from Rafa who scored a 10-1 run, earning a two-break advantage (0-4). Kubler doesn't know what to invent and literally celebrates winning the first game of his match in the sixth game, before conceding the 6-1, not taking advantage of three balls of the partial counter-break.

In all this, worth mentioning is an amazing Veronica from the Spaniard in the fourth game.

Rafael Nadal exalts the Brisbane crowd with a super shot!

It really seems that Rafael Nadal did not have to miss all of 2023 and deal with a serious injury capable of putting his future in the world of tennis at risk.

Nadal surprised Kubler in response in the second game of the first set, charging his usual forehand and gaining the 4-0 in just a few minutes. The lead breaks immediately became two: the second came at the end of an intense rally, closed by the Spaniard with a no-look smash that made the crowd present in Brisbane rub their eyes.

Below you can see the video shared by ATP Tour X account.

Down 0-5, Kubler required the intervention of a physiotherapist for a forearm problem that will torment him for the rest of the match.

Nadal started with a break to zero also in the second half of the game, setting the record straight. The Australian only worried him at 1-2, but Nadal responded and canceled the counter-break point using his deadly forehand.

At the press conference, Rafa analyzed: "It was a positive match, without any doubt. In the first five games I expressed an excellent level of tennis by doing almost everything in the right way. I played well for most of the match and I'm happy for victory.

Obviously it's important for me to win and play another match tomorrow. This is what matters most now. When you face break points it is important to survive, because you train yourself to face adversity. Something I need to work on considering I haven't been in this position for a while."

Rafael Nadal