Rafael Nadal is going to make life “a lot difficult” for his opponents, says Prakash Amritraj

Former Indian player Prakash Amritraj feels Rafael Nadal is going to make life a lot difficult for his opponents after Spaniard’s successful return to the tour after 349 days hiatus. The veteran Spaniard bested Dominic Thiem in straight sets by 7-5, 6-1 in Brisbane to mark a successful return to the tour.

Amritraj said Nadal ticked all the right boxes in his return match and he could be a force to reckon with if he keeps playing in a similar fashion. Nadal himself admitted it was a important day for him after a long break from the game due to his hip surgery.

“Going through the ball, but still getting enough depth. But we didn’t lose that Rafa heaviness on both sides. Backhand, heavy topspin, pushing Thiem back then flattening out that forehand, really mixing things up well and a huge stat for Rafa, we’ve added some mph on that serve,” Amitraj said on Tennis Channel Live Podcast.

“90% [points] won off the first serve, 80% won on the second serve. That’s going to make life a lot difficult for all of his opponents,” he added.

Amritraj was impressed with Nadal’s aggressive approach against the Austrian and said the veteran was not complacent.

“Well, looking for the check markers that we want in Rafa being able to come back and play at a very high level, I think we saw all good things,” Amitraj said.

“Stepping into the backhand there, not really getting too complacent, playing too defensive behind the baseline, which is a tendency to do when you come back. But it was all aggression, especially in the big parts of that first set,” he added.

Nadal will next play against Australia’s Jason Kubler for a place in the quarterfinals in Brisbane.