ATP Brisbane Day 3 Predictions Including Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem

With the first events of 2024 underway, the ATP 250 in Brisbane welcomes back former World #1 and 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, playing his first event in just under a year with a 2023 plagued by injuries. Will the Spaniard be able to get his 2024 off to a winning start against old rival Dominic Thiem?

ATP Brisbane Day 3 Predictions

Li Tu vs Daniel Altmaier

Head-to-head: 0-0

Tu has done well to qualify for the main event after an epic first round in qualifying which he barely scraped through in a final set tiebreak. Unfortunately for the 27 year old, he’s now coming up against world #56 Altmaier coming off a career best year. The Australian has only ever played four players in the top 80 before and has found himself with losses in each one with just the single set won. The German may not have the flashiest game to threaten those at the very top of the game but a key aspect of most of his 2023 was beating players he should beat more often than not. Expect Altmaier to be far too solid for the qualifier.
Prediction Altmaier in 2

Marton Fucsovics vs Matteo Arnaldi

Head-to-head: 0-0

With Fucsovics already a set up before play was suspended, the Hungarian has to be favorite here. However, with the first set being so close with the tiebreak being won 7 points to 5, it’s safe to expect the remainder of the match may also be just as close. Arnaldi’s rise more or less came out of nowhere at the end of 2023 and it’s showing week-in-week-out with the 22 year old’s game, especially the backhand improving at a rapid pace hence his results beating Top 50 and 100 players on a regular basis now. Whilst Fucsovics is the favorite, I can see the Italian staging a comeback providing he can come out and not falter early to give the Hungarian a set and break lead.
Prediction: Arnaldi in 3

Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem

Head-to-head: Nadal 9-6

It’s the match we’ve all been waiting for which is crazy when on paper it’s between the World #98 and World #672. With Rafael Nadal out for practically a year and Dominic Thiem not the same player he once was for almost a good two years now, it’s hard to know what to expect. Former World #1 and current Top 10 player Andy Murray and Holger Rune have openly said they’ve been impressed with the Spaniard’s level of tennis in their practice matches this week but it’s hard to judge anything from them.

Dominic Thiem, as mentioned before, is nowhere near the player that won the 2020 US Open and has beaten Nadal in three of their last four meetings. Highlighted best by having to come back from saving triple match point against McCabe ranked 272 in the first round of qualifying.

It’s hard to know what to expect here. With the Austrian it’s easier to know the level he’ll produce but even then, playing one of his biggest rivals on a stage like this might help the 30-year-old find some of the magic he once had again, especially against the Spaniard where Nadal’s high spin forehand to most one-handed backhands ruined so many players but not himself.

I’m not expecting the quality to be great and I expect Thiem to put up a good fight, but I think even at 37 years of age, the Spaniard has a little left in him before retirement.
Prediction: Nadal in 3