Rafael Nadal reacts to unusual warning as he continues comeback with Brisbane dismantling
Rafael Nadal impressed in the second match of his comeback from injury at the 2024 Brisbane International as he steamrolled Jason Kubler in straight sets.
Nadal broke twice in each set as he hammered world No 102 Kubler 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the ATP 250 tournament on Thursday.
The 37-year-old did not lose serve in the match and saved all four break points he faced as he followed up his strong display in his opening round win over Dominic Thiem.
Before Brisbane, the 22-time major champion had not played since suffering a hip injury in a straight-set defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open.
The former world No 1 fell 4-6, 4-6 with partner Marc Lopez in the doubles event in Brisbane on his return to the match court on December 31.
In his match with Kubler, the Spaniard received a time violation warning for being “a little bit late coming back from the toilet”, as announced by the umpire to Nadal’s surprise and the crowd’s amusement.
“Rafael Nadal was a little bit late coming back from the toilet” 😂@RafaelNadal with an unusual time violation in Brisbane! #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/ELLGoQ6iez
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 4, 2024
In his on-court interview, Nadal humourously addressed the warning for his toilet break and expressed his confusion, while admitting he will try to be faster.
“Well… I think it was something strange because I know I have five minutes. Honestly, Brisbane is very humid and I had to change every single piece (of clothing). It takes a while and then honestly on the walkie-talkie they were calling me, three minutes, two minutes, one minute, half a minute,” he said.
“And I came out at the right time but probably the guy who was with me said a few seconds later to the umpire that I was… they told me four seconds late… I don’t know if it was me. I thought I was on time, honestly. But something happened and I know I am slow, I am going to try and improve.”
Rafa Nadal on the time violation
They were telling me in the walky talky… 3 minutes. 2 minutes. 1 minute. Half minute. I came out at the right time… I thought I was on time… I’m slow & I know that. I’m going to try to keep improving in 2024” 😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 4, 2024
Nadal was again asked about the situation in his press conference and suggested the rule must have changed while he has was away from the sport.
“I really don’t understand very well. Without criticising anyone, because I take it like a funny circumstances, but I need to get to the rule exactly because I don’t know how the things are, if something change,” the Mallorcan said.
“If I am not wrong, as far as I know, the rule is you have five minutes inside the locker room. After that five minutes, I was outside of the locker room. I don’t know if it was the person that was me said to the referee, to the umpire, four seconds later.
“That’s what the umpire told me the person said, four seconds later when he called the time that I was going out the locker room. I don’t think that was what happened. I can be wrong. My feeling is when they called five minutes, I was walking through the door. Nothing happens. Just anecdotic.
“I need to know more about the rule because something changed and I missed during this year. I thought I was on time, so that’s why I was surprised.”
