Rafael Nadal vs Jordan Thompson live score, result, updates, highlights from ATP Brisbane International

By | January 5, 2024
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Rafael Nadal faces Jordan Thompson in the quarterfinals of the ATP Brisbane International on January 5.

The Spanish great is playing in his first tournament in practically a full year, having taken the rest of 2023 off to recover from injury following his defeat to Mackenzie McDonald at last year’s Australian Open.

The 22-time grand slam champion started his campaign in Queensland with a straight-sets win over Dominic Thiem, another major winner who has struggled with injury in recent seasons. Nadal then thrashed Jason Kubler for the loss of just three games in the second round.

He now faces Kubler’s compatriot Thompson, who enjoyed doubles success over Nadal and Marc Lopez at this venue on December 31. Thompson beat Aleksandar Vukic in the first round of the singles draw before fourth seed Ugo Humbert withdrew before their second-round matchup.

Book now to secure your spot at the 2024 Brisbane International

The Sporting News will be following the Rafael Nadal vs. Jordan Thompson match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as they happen.

MORE: How long was Rafael Nadal out of action?

Rafael Nadal vs Jordan Thompson live score

  Set 1 Set 2
Nadal 6 —
Thompson* 5 —

*Denotes server

Rafael Nadal vs Jordan Thompson live updates, highlights, and commentary

Nadal* 6-5 Thompson

“NO!” bellows Thompson as he nets a forehand. Nadal promptly follows suit, then double faults for the first time in the match. It’s tense out here. The Spaniard produces a couple of timely big forehands to get out of trouble, but misses the next one. Deuce. An ace down the tee helps him come through in the end.

Nadal 5-5 Thompson*

That’s the most straightforward game for a while, Thompson serving effectively and finishing it off with another precise forehand. Level again.

Nadal* 5-4 Thompson

Having battled so hard to get that break, how will Thompson react to handing one straight back to Nadal? Well, winning a forehand exchange at 15-15 is a good way to go about things. Nadal gets to game point with an arrow of a backhand down the line, but Thompson dispatches a forehand for deuce — Nadal has won just one of nine points behind his second serve to this point. He comes through in the end, but the Spaniard isn’t too happy out there.

Nadal 4-4 Thompson* — NADAL BREAKS

Nadal, naturally, puts the Thompson serve straight back under pressure. He tries another approach shot and is picked off by a curling forehand that elicits the first fist-pump of the evening from Nadal. Thompson shows lovely soft hands at the net at 0-40, but Nadal hunts down his next volley and whips the forehand pass into the open court. An immediate break back!

Nadal* 3-4 Thompson — THOMPSON BREAKS

Nadal is dominating the shorter rallies, but Thompson is doing far better in the longer exchanges. It’s not often that players get on top of Nadal by making the points longer! At 40-15, Nadal follows up a good serve with an approach shot, but Thompson picks out the open court in style, then finishes the next rally with a pinpoint forehand! Nadal gets worn down in another long rally, and we have a first break point of the match… and Thompson takes it, forcing Nadal to net off the backhand! Wow. Brilliant stuff from the Australian.

Nadal 3-3 Thompson*

A terrific second serve has Nadal backpeddling — no mean feat given he was standing so far back to begin with — but Thompson makes a horrible mess of a smash at 30-0. He shows real bravery to come to the net on the next point and put away a potentially tricky volley, but Nadal wins the next brutal exchange and a double fault brings up deuce. Thompson sees two game points come and go, but two rare forehand misses from Nadal let his opponent off the hook. It’s 3-3.

Nadal* 3-2 Thompson

Nadal mixes up the serve, this time sliding one so far to the Thompson backhand that spectators might have feared for their safety. Thompson decides enough is enough, steps in on a second serve at 40-0, and slaps back a forehand winner. And again — this time, he finishes the point with a drop volley at the net. And again — a backhand cross-court winner! Suddenly, the Nadal serve is under pressure. The Spaniard forces two backhand errors to come through the game, but that will have given the home favourite some confidence.

Nadal 2-2 Thompson*

Off balance, Thompson goes long off the forehand after a second serve. He sets up the next point nicely, only to crash a backhand into the net from mid-court. Danger signs. However, two big serves have Nadal at full stretch, and the Aussie levels the game. Then comes a huge slice of luck, as Thompson’s backhand clips the net full on but somehow drops over. A Nadal mishit, and Thompson comes through.

Nadal* 2-1 Thompson

Nadal is serving really well early on. An ace brings up 40-0; Thompson scrambles to get the next one back in play, but Nadal hammers the forehand winner.

Nadal 1-1 Thompson*

Thompson follows up a serve with a tidy forehand winner. The next rally is a longer exchange, ending with Nadal whipping a forehand inches wide. Thompson then gets caught out by a looping shot that just lands in court, but he steadies himself in the rally before another thumping forehand winner. Nadal misses a backhand to end the game.

Nadal* 1-0 Thompson

An imperious opening game sees Nadal win the first exhausting rally and fire down two unreturned serves. No sign of any fatigue, there!

Start

Here we go! Nadal to serve first.

Prematch: Here come the players! Thompson is bedecked in dark blue and white, while Nadal is sporting a pink top with light green (and very short) shorts. Thompson wins the coin toss and elects to receive serve first.

Prematch: Sabalenka battled through in two sets, so Nadal and Thompson will be out on court soon.

Prematch: This match won’t start until at least 8 p.m. local time. The women’s quarterfinal between Aryna Sabalenka and Daria Kasatkina is being played on the Pat Rafter court at the moment, and should that one go to a third set, Nadal and Thompson will have to wait a little longer.

Prematch: Welcome to this tantalising quarterfinal matchup in the men’s draw. Rafael Nadal continues his impressive return to the Tour against home favourite Jordan Thompson — a man he has beaten in their only two previous meetings, most recently at the 2022 French Open.

Rafael Nadal vs Jordan Thompson live stream, TV channel

Book now to secure your spot at the 2024 Brisbane International

The match between Rafael Nadal and Jordan Thompson is due to be the fifth match on court at the Pat Rafter Arena on Friday, January 5.

The start time will be determined by the length of the preceding matches, but it will not begin before 8 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET).

  TV Streaming
USA Tennis Channel Tennis Channel, Fubo
Canada TSN TSN GO
UK Sky Sports NOW TV, Sky Go
Australia Nine Network 9Now, Stan Sport
India — Tennis TV

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