Rafael Nadal wins the 89th title of his career in Melbourne

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Rafael Nadal at the finals in Melbourne

Photo: JAMES ROSS / imago images / AAP

Rafael Nadal has reported back from his month-long injury break with a tournament victory and positioned himself for the Australian Open.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion from Spain won the final of the preparatory tournament in Melbourne against Maxime Cressy from the USA 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 3 and celebrated the 89th title of his professional career.

Nadal first won the Australian Open

The 35-year-old Nadal had canceled the previous season because of a foot injury in August before the US Open.

After the invitation tournament in Abu Dhabi in December, he tested positive for Covid-19.

The Australian Open, which begins on January 17th in Melbourne, has only won Nadal once in 2009.

Connors with the most tournament wins

“I've had some challenges from the injury and I'm just getting back.

So I can't be happier, "said Nadal and admitted when thanking his team:" The last year and a half have been difficult for me. "The final against Cressy took place in the Rod Laver Arena, the Center Court of the Australian Open .

In the history of professional tennis, which started in 1968, only Jimmy Connors (109), Roger Federer (103) and Ivan Lendl (94) have won more titles than Nadal.

His long-term rival Novak Djoković follows with 86 tournament victories.

The best German on this list is Boris Becker (49), Alexander Zverev has already won 19 tournaments at the age of 24 - six of them last year.

Monfils wins in Adelaide

In Adelaide, meanwhile, the Frenchman Gaël Monfils secured the eleventh title of his career.

The 35-year-old defeated the Tokyo silver medalist, Karen Khachanov from Russia, 6: 4, 6: 4 in the final.

Monfils was seeded in first place in Adelaide and, like Nadal, did not give up a set in the course of the tournament.

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