In contrast with Nadal's travel schedule, Dolgopolov gave up his Christmas at home to arrive on December 26 and give himself every chance to do well in Brisbane.
Nadal's camp would have liked him to have a Wednesday start at Pat Rafter Arena, but as fifth seed he did not get the first-round byes accorded the top four men's seeds.
Brisbane and the Australian Open are the first two stops of a four-tournament block after which Nadal says he will know how his form will track in 2017 and how his body will react to the punishment inherent in his playing style.
"We cannot start analysing my game from how I played here, or how I play in Brisbane," Nadal said in Abu Dhabi.
"When you are coming back from injury and you have not competed in a while, you cannot analyse how you feel after two or three events.
"I played three matches against three top players. That gives me some positive energy for the new year and to win against these kind of players is impossible if you are not playing well.
"It was pleasing to see that when I am able to play with confidence with my forehand, the matches are going the way I want.
"[After Brisbane, Melbourne, Rotterdam and Acapulco] I would have played enough tournaments to say, 'OK, I am here' or 'I am there'," he said.
