![](\"https:\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/220109165606-rafael-nadal-melbourne-hp-video.jpg\")
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(Reuters)<\/cite>Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal said his title win at Melbourne Summer Set 1 on Sunday was to be appreciated as the Spaniard made a successful return to the competition after a tricky foot injury that kept him out for almost four months.<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Reuters)Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal said his title win at Melbourne Summer Set 1 on Sunday was to be appreciated as the Spaniard made a successful return to the competition after a tricky foot injury that kept him out for almost four months. The 35-year-old claimed his 89th career title after defeating American qualifier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nThe 35-year-old claimed his 89th career title after defeating American qualifier Maxime Cressy 7-6 (6) 6 in the final of the ATP 250 event ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 17. 3 had defeated.<\/p>\nNadal salvaged a set point in the first set tiebreak and fought back from a collapse in the second set before ending the match in an hour and 44 minutes.<\/p>\n “Very happy to start the season with a title… and where we come from it’s very special,” said Nadal. “I think I played my best match tonight since I’ve been here, without a doubt, against a very difficult player.”<\/p>\nNadal competed in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi last month but tested positive for Covid-19 on his return, further hampering his preparation for the Australian Open where he is aiming for his second title – and first since 2009.<\/p>\n“Obviously if we put it all together and analyze all the things I’ve been through in the last five months, including the Covid to Abu Dhabi, I’m happy,” he added.<\/p>\n“Of course there were still doubts, but for many months there have been even more doubts as to whether I can come back.”<\/p>\nBut Nadal insisted there was still work to be done to regain match sharpness and add to his tally of 20 Majors, a record he currently shares with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.<\/p>\n“Well right where I’d like to be is to be 100 per cent healthy… to play until the end of the season and not come back after five, six months out of competition… I still have to improve… and me I’ll try.”<\/p>\n