Nadal excited about return to action as he gets back in the swing in Barcelona
Rafael Nadal will make his eagerly-anticipated return to clay today after he confirmed his participation in the Barcelona Open and provided a further hint that 2024 will be his last on tour.
Nadal has been ravaged by injuries in recent years and announced last May his intention to retire at the conclusion of this season.
The farewell tour for the 22-timegrand-slamchampion has failed to go to plan though, after he had to pull out of the Australian Open in January due to a hip injury and subsequently missed
ATP 1000 events in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.
However, the 37-year-old will play at the Barcelona Open, where there is a court named after him, today against Italian youngster Flavio Cobolli, which will represent his first professional tie on clay since his 2022 Roland Garros triumph.
“No, I can't give you an injury update because the list is long and I just want to think about what can happen,” Nadal told a press conference in English. “I can only tell you that today I feel myself, enough good to be on court tomorrow and that for me is so important.
“It means a lot to me to be able to play one more time here in Barcelona, a place that I have amazing success and a lot of unforgettable memories.
“So, I am just trying to enjoy everymomentandiamexcited about being on court in a professional tournament again, especially here at home.”
Nadal has won this tournament a record 12 times but has only managed three competitive matches in 2024. He did recently take part in an exhibition with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who will miss this week's ATP 500 event due to a forearm injury.
Current world No 644 Nadal has battled with his fitness for several years and was on crutches a day after his last major victory at the French Open in 2022, which was followed by injuryhit appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open before he barely featured last year.
This appearance in Barcelona does at least raise the prospect that he could participate at Roland Garros next month and later this year when it hosts the tennis tournament for the Paris Olympics. Asked
if he could envisage such a painful journey, Nadal conceded: “Well, no but the day after Roland Garros I have been on crutches so that's the truth.
“I was not able to spend a lot of days on tour over the last two years, so I just want to enjoy every day I am able to play with the guys on a professional level.”
In yesterday’s action in Barcelona,
Dan Evans' poor claycourt season continued with a third consecutive defeat as he went down in straight sets to Brandon Nakashima.
After early exits on clay in Marrakesh and Monte Carlo, British No 3 Evans lost 6-7 (5) 2-6 to Nakashima in the first round.
The contest lasted two hours and 10 minutes but after a
closely-fought first set, where the pair exchanged two breaks each, American youngster Nakashima took control in the second to inflict another loss on world No 49 Evans.
Jack Draper fared better in Munich as he beat Vit Kopriva 6-1 5-7 6-4 to reach the last 16 of the BMW Open and claim his 50th ATP Tour victory in the process.