Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal expressed his confusion over a "strange" punishment he received during the Brisbane International tournament. The 22-time Grand Slam champion was given a time violation warning after returning late from a toilet break during his second round victory over Jason Kubler.

Confusion Over Time Violation

Nadal was left perplexed by the penalty, as he believed he had five minutes to return to the court. The tennis icon explained that the humid conditions in Brisbane necessitated changing every piece of clothing, which took some time. Despite hearing the time updates through his walkie talkie, he was still deemed four seconds late by the umpire.

Nadal's Reaction and Fan Support

Despite the confusion, Nadal maintained a positive attitude and displayed no blame or drama. Tennis fans on social media praised his handling of the situation, with one user commenting, "He is just too easy to love." Another fan appreciated Nadal's nice attitude and lack of drama.

No Impact on Performance

The punishment did not affect Nadal's performance, as he went on to defeat Kubler 6-1, 6-2 and secure a spot in the quarter-finals. He will face Jordan Thompson in the next round, with a victory setting up a semi-final clash against Grigor Dimitrov.

Nadal Returns to Competition

Nadal's appearance in the Brisbane International marks his comeback after a hip injury that kept him out of the game for almost a year. Although his world ranking has slipped to 672nd, he is determined to regain his form and is preparing for the upcoming Australian Open. The draw for the tournament will take place next Thursday, and the event itself will commence on January 14.