He hadn't played an ATP tournament since last August.
But it took him a week to take
the 89th title of his career.
Rafa Nadal has already signed a new record
.
The final was fun and hard-fought against Maxime Cressy, an American of French origin who was defeated 7-6 (6) 6-3.
Nadal made it worthwhile, and the seven aces in the second set did the rest.
The week remains full of applause from Cressy, who in Melbourne defeated Reilly Opelka saving two match points and Grigor Dimitrov.
With the triumph at the Melbourne Summer Set, 2022 is the nineteenth consecutive season with at least one title to his credit for the Majorcan.
