Rafael Nadal’s emphatic Brisbane return goes on after unusual warning | Tennis | Sport

Kubler then took his second and third games of the match, already improving from his first-set tally despite trailing Nadal 3-2, but he was unable to hold his serve and the 22-time Major winner rallied from 40-10 down in the sixth game to win, before taking the final two swiftly to seal his place in the next round.

Nadal has shown no signs of his injuries plaguing him in the first two matches of his comeback and his Australian Open chances will be getting bigger with every minute he is on court.

He will next face another Aussie in Jordan Thompson at the quarter-final stage, who advanced after a withdrawal from Ugo Humbert.