Nadal looks sharp after lengthy layoff College basketball: The

The longest time off tour in his professional career made Rafael Nadal much more nervous than usual ahead of his first competitive match in almost 12 months.

The 22-time major winner showed no signs of rust at the Brisbane International on Tuesday in a 7-5, 6-1 win over Dominic Thiem, who won the U.S. Open in 2020 and has a careerhigh No. 3 ranking but is making a return from injury himself.

“Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me,” Nadal said. “And to play at the very positive level on the first day is something that probably makes (me) feel proud.”

Nadal, 37, hadn't played a singles match at the elite level since last January and a hip injury in a second-round exit at the Australian Open.

In another tournament, U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff started her 2024 season and her defense of the Auckland Tennis Classic title with a rusty-attimes 6-4, 6-2 win over American compatriot Claire Liu.

Pac-12 named Stanford guard Kanaan Carlyle its Freshman of the Week. Carlyle had 28 points — going 6-for-8 from beyond the arc — eight rebounds and two blocks in the Cardinal's 100-82 upset of then-No. 4 Arizona on Sunday. Stanford (6-6, 1-1) faces UCLA (6-7, 1-1) at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday night.

The WCC named St. Mary's reserve swingman Luke Barrett its Player of the Week. The Piedmont High alum scored a career-high 19 points — going 7for-9 from the floor — in the Gaels' 66-46 rout of Kent State on Friday. St. Mary's (9-6) opens WCC play at San Diego (10-5) on Thursday night.