Rafael Nadal's Comeback Halted In Epic Encounter In Brisbane International

Spanish great Rafael Nadal's comeback to tennis came to an end when he lost a 3hr 25min marathon quarter-final to Australian Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International on Friday. Thompson saved three match points in the second set before overcoming an increasingly fatigued Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in a gruelling encounter that finished just before midnight on Pat Rafter Arena. Thompson booked a semi-final against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov with the win, while at the same time throwing a spanner in the works of Nadal's Australian Open preparations. Nadal said he had plenty of chances to win, but just couldn't take them. "I think he played a good match. For me, it was not the best match, I had a lot of opportunities to win it," he said.

"I need to accept that. After a year (of not playing), that's normal."

Playing his first tournament after almost 12 months away from the sport through injury, Nadal appeared headed for a straight sets win after claiming the first set and then getting to a 6-4 lead in the second set tiebreak.

But an inspired Thompson refused to go away and took advantage of some unforced errors from the Spaniard to clinch the second set.

Nadal, who was broken early in the third set, took a medical time out at 1-4 down after appearing to need treatment to his upper left thigh.

He was able to continue but was unable to break back and Thompson held on to the delight of the capacity crowd.

Nadal said he wouldn't know how bad the injury was until the next day.

"A lot of things can happen in a body like my body after a year without playing tennis," he said. "So hopefully it is just a muscle that is supercharged."

Thompson said he was so wrapped up in the match he couldn't remember a key moment.

"I completely