BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 5, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Spanish great Rafael Nadal's

comeback came to an end Friday when he lost a 3hr 25min marathon match to
Australian Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane
International.

Thompson saved three match points in the second set before overcoming an
increasingly fatigued Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in a gruelling encounter on
Pat Rafter Arena.

Playing his first tournament after almost 12 months away from the sport
through injury, Nadal appeared headed for a straight sets win after claiming
the first set then getting to a 6-4 lead in the second set tiebreak.

But an inspired Thompson refused to go away and took advantage of some
unforced errors from the Spaniard to clinch an 83-minute second set.

Once he broke Nadal's serve early in the third, he never looked like losing,
celebrating after a Nadal backhand sailed long.

Thompson booked a semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov with the win, while at
the same time throwing a spanner in the works of Nadal's Australian Open
preparations.

Nadal, who needed two hip surgeries after injuring himself at the 2023
Australian Open, was forced to take a medical time out while down 1-4 in the
third set, needing treatment on his left thigh.