World No 2 Nadal handled No 3 Thiem in the heading match and it is did not dissatisfy.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner was made to work for a 7-5, 6-4 victory in front of a loaded out stadium.

And after the match he said: “I wish to have the right preparation for the Australian Open, I won there in 2009 but nearly everyone has actually ignored that.

” I have been training hard and this year I will keep trying my best.”

Australia has actually got to grips with the coronavirus and fans are enabled to go to matches over the coming weeks.