BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Rafael Nadal won his first match back from a year-long injury layoff when he beat former US Open champion Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, calling it an "emotional and important day."

The 22-time Grand Slam winner looked in superb touch with a clinical 7-5, 6-1 victory over the Austrian in front of a full house at Pat Rafter Arena.

He will now play Jason Kubler in the second round after the Australian wildcard progressed when Aslan Karatsev was forced to withdraw injured with the scores locked at one set apiece.

The 37-year-old Spaniard had not played singles since a second-round loss at the Australian Open last year, undergoing two rounds of hip surgery.

"Today, honestly, is an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career, without a doubt," he said.

"To have the chance to come back after a year and play in front of an amazing crowd, and play I think at a very positive level for the first day is something that makes us feel proud."

The former world No. 1 did concede the result could have been very different.

"I know I have been practicing okay in the last week, practicing I think at a positive level," Nadal said. "I'm talking with my hand on my heart and being very honest with all of you."

"You really at the end hope that you're going to play at this level, but inside yourself you know that it can be a disaster, and that, of course, worries me."

The long layoff raised fears that his career could be over, but Nadal said this week he was always determined to make it back for the 2024 season.