Rafael Nadal offers Dominic Thiem advice ahead of Andy Murray clash at Madrid Open

RAFAEL NADAL has shared his thoughts to Dominic Thiem as he makes his comeback from a long injury layoff

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Rafael Nadal has offered advice to Dominic Thiem ahead of his advent at the Madrid Open. The Austrian is making a comeback later a lengthy injury layoff and volition face Andy Murray in his opening match this evening.

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The Spaniard is too making a return afterwards over a month off due to a rib injury. Nadal is the main of pulling off miraculous comebacks and folliwng a 5-calendar month absence, he went on to win his secpond Australian Open up title in January.

In his pre-tournament press briefing, he refused to put any pressure on the 2020 United states Open champion doing the same, insisting he needs to be given time. "Information technology'due south not the moment to put pressure on Dominic, it'due south not off-white to compare almost me," the 21-time grand slam champion told reporters.

"The way I was able to come back a lot of times in my tennis career is something special and it is non mutual. When you're coming back from a period of time without playing there is a procedure and that's what Dominic is going through.

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Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem

Rafael Nadal has not put any pressure on Dominic Thiem making a similar injury comeback to his own (Image: GETTY)

"I have no doubt that if he is healthy he will exist back. It's almost time and if he really has the determination and the passion to keep going I don't have any doubt he will 100% recover his level." Nadal has not played since the Indian Wells final in March, where Taylor Fritz handed him his first and so far merely loss of the flavor.

Despite missing the showtime dirt court events of the campaign in Monte Carlo Carlo and Barcelona, where has a combined full of 23 titles, Nadal has returned fit, motivated and excited to play in front of his home fans once again, with his campaign gear up to commence tomorrow against either Miomir Kecmanovic or Alexander Bublik. "Talking almost the injury, I'thou recovered, I experience skillful. Talking almost my tennis game and preparations, well, it'due south a completely different story," Nadal said.

"Anyone who has broken a rib knows how limiting information technology is, very painful, specially the first weeks. I wasn't able to do anything without a lot of difficulties, even to fall asleep because of the pain. I take improved compared to when I came here but I still have up and downs considering information technology's been a long time without existence in these kind of situations and it's going to be a difficult week, for sure."

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Rafael Nadal

The Spaniard is the principal of injury comebacks and he won the Aussie Open after a 5 month absence (Image: GETTY)

A potential blockbuster quarter-final with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz is on the cards this week, equally well as a semi-last showdown with smashing rival Novak Djokovic. "I have improved compared to when I arrived hither [in Madrid], but I still take ups and downs, because it'south been a long time. It'south going to be a difficult calendar week," Nadal said, who hopes to brand a good assessment of his level when he participates in the Spanish capital.

"That's the reality. We take to be calm, we have to have that things are going to be far away from perfection, but then onwards we just have to fight. I'thou recovered. I feel good. Information technology's a very tight tournament for me," Nadal added when asked about his preparation fourth dimension. "Nosotros will have to take the positives and perhaps I will have good moments playing on court.

"We have to have some patience. Nosotros have to be apprehensive mean solar day after day to come across what happens. I will effort to improve every twenty-four hour period."