Nadal reaches Brisbane quarterfinals

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — When Rafael Nadal faced three break points while serving for a commanding first set, a voice in the crowd at the Brisbane International yelled out to Jason Kubler: “You've got him worried now!”

It was a fleeting concern for the 22-time major winner on Thursday in his second match back from a year-long injury layoff.

Nadal won the next five points to seal the set, broke at love to open the second set and consolidated by holding his own serve easily to put him on course for a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kubler and a spot in the quarterfinals.

The 37-year-old Spaniard is playing on a wild card after his ranking slipped into the 600s as he recovered from hip surgery, and he's desperate for match time ahead of the Australian Open this month.

Regaining the mental and muscle memory of navigating the difficult game scenarios is on his must-do list this week.

“It's important to survive these kind of moments because you practice the adversity,” he said. “Something I need to practice again because (it's) been a while, a long time, without being in that position.”

Nadal's first competitive match since January last year was a win on Tuesday against 2020 U.S. Open champion and former No. 3-ranked Dominic Thiem.

He was more convincing against Kubler, a hometown favorite who is ranked 63rd after a career interrupted by multiple operations on his knees.

Nadal had 20 winners, including some ripping forehands, and eight unforced errors.

He lost only one point in his first three service games — a double-fault on the second point of the match.

Nadal said the hip was “not bothering me at all” and he's not having any issues with his long-term foot problem.