Tennis legend, Rafael Nadal is set for a challenging return to the ATP Tour after nearly a year of absence due to injury, as he is scheduled to face former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the first round of the Brisbane International.

Thiem, a former world number three and two-time French Open finalist against Nadal, had to navigate through two demanding qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the main draw. 

Similar to Nadal, Thiem faced setbacks due to injuries, notably dropping to 352 in the world rankings in 2022 after dealing with a right wrist tear. His current ranking stands at 98.

The upcoming match marks the 16th meeting between the two players, with Nadal holding a record of nine wins to Thiem’s six. 

Despite Nadal’s historical advantage, Thiem clinched victories in their last two encounters at the ATP Tour Finals in 2020 and the Australian Open in the same year.

The highly anticipated face-off is scheduled for Tuesday.