Rafael Nadal 'ready to compete' as he gets set to face Dominic Thiem on return | Brisbane International

As Rafal Nadal gets set to return to the tennis court after almost a year at the Brisbane International, the 22-time Grand Slam champion is 'ready to compete.'

'In a realistic world I'm happy with the way I'm practising of course I don't have the expectations that I used to have in the past, especially for the beginning. It's obvious now it's one year, since surgery. It's not that long period of time practising in a decent level. So for me, it's a little bit unpredictable how the things going to be, you know,' the Spaniard said at a press conference on Sunday.'

Nadal will face his familiar foe Dominic Thiem in the first round of Brisbane International.

'Then when I was starting to feel myself ready like now, of course, I am excited to come back to the tennis court I'm excited to come back to the competition is something that I loved. And if I don't have the determination and passion for it, as I said to Andy, then I won't be here,' he added.

'I feel like if I am doing fine, you know, I am not ready to compete. So before the tournament this time I felt ready to compete,' Nadal said.