Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his men's singles match against Dominic Thiem in Brisbane on Tuesday. AFP

Rafael Nadal won his first match back from a year-long injury layoff when he beat former US Open champion Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, calling it an "emotional and important day."

The 22-time Grand Slam winner looked in superb touch with a clinical 7-5, 6-1 victory over the Austrian in front of a full house at Pat Rafter Arena.

He will now play Jason Kubler in the second round after the Australian wildcard progressed when Aslan Karatsev was forced to withdraw injured with the scores locked at one set apiece.

The 37-year-old Spaniard had not played singles since a second-round loss at the Australian Open last year, undergoing two rounds of hip surgery.

"Today, honestly, is an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career, without a doubt," he said. The former world number one did concede the result could have been very different. "I know I have been practising okay in the last week, practising I think at a positive level," Nadal said.

The long layoff raised fears that his career could be over, but Nadal said this week he was always determined to make it back for the 2024 season. He conceded before the match there was "a high percentage" that it would be his last season, but left the door open to play on should his body hold up.

"I missed being healthy, I missed feeling competitive and to play in front of full crowds like this," he said courtside after beating Thiem in 89 minutes.

Agence France-Presse