Rafael Nadal returned to competition but faced a setback as England’s Cameron Norrie defeated him in straight sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Norrie leveraged his opportunities during a period when Nadal had fewer match minutes to reverse the momentum and prevent Spain from advancing in the newly formed United Cup.
The season opened with Nadal, currently ranked world No. 2, confronting a rough start marked by a heavier on-court load on the Ken Rosewall Arena. He opened his Group D campaign against Australia and Alex de Minaur, stepping onto the court on the first day of the event to test his form after a long off-season.
Nadal admitted he had not competed on a tour-level court since December, following the Latin American exhibition swing. Despite that layoff, he began with promise against Norrie, a rival he had already met four times, including a recent final in Acapulco from the previous season.
In Sydney, the group stage of the event that marks the start of the year showcased a different narrative. Norrie, efficient with his first serve, turned the decisive points in his favor, pushing Nadal onto the defensive and forcing a quick timeout in the sixth game. The Briton went on to take the first set and then closed the match with a controlled performance, overcoming the Spaniard who remained eager to find his rhythm.
Norrie, 27, sits fourteenth in the world rankings and had earned four titles in 2022, including wins at Lyon and Delray Beach. He stayed evenly matched with Nadal in the early exchanges, but the Johannesburg-born player managed to secure the crucial moments of the match. Nadal failed to stabilize the rally and couldn’t transform the openings he created, sending the duel to a later stage than he would have hoped.
Consistently strong on serve, Norrie did not let Nadal’s attempts to shift the balance disrupt his rhythm. Nadal’s plan to sharpen his game for the Australian Open in Sydney — the season’s first Grand Slam — faced a stern test, with Norrie delivering decisive service holds and timely winners. The British player held serve in critical moments and kept the advantage as the sets progressed, preventing Nadal from mounting a comeback in the middle and late stages of each frame. The match stretched for 2 hours and 45 minutes, a demanding start that highlighted Nadal’s need to regain match sharpness after his extended break.
While Nadal began 2022 with an impressive 21-match win streak and several triumphs, this Sydney contest marked his first defeat of the new year and signaled the need to regain pace after a quiet start to the season. Norrie’s performance ahead of the British team’s campaign in the competition underscored his current form and his ability to pressure Nadal under the lights. The result set the tone for a season that would see both players navigating a demanding calendar and high-stakes matches across the world stage.
As the day’s action unfolded, Nuria Párrizas was slated to meet Katie Swan to complete the opening day for the Spanish team led by Marc López in the inaugural edition of the tournament. The grouping of Spain and the broader field illustrated the evolving structure of the competition, with each nation fielding a lineup designed to maximize its chances across multiple matches and formats. The event’s early rounds offered a glimpse into how Nadal, Norrie, and their peers would adapt to a season built on intensity, travel, and strategic management of form across varied surfaces and conditions.