Nadal calls return to action ‘a gift’

Rafael Nadal is “ready enough” to play on Tuesday in what he expects to be his last Barcelona Open. Nadal on Monday confirmed his participation in his first clay-court tournament this year. “It was a positive week of training and I’ll be on the court,” said Nadal, who will face Flavio Cobolli in his opening match. “It’s a gift to be here. I have a feeling that it will be my last time here and I want to enjoy it.” Nadal, a 12-time champion in Barcelona, had hip surgery last summer and this year has played only three competitive matches, all in Brisbane before skipping the Australian Open. “I’m ready enough to play,” Nadal said. “It is what it is right now. I have to keep going day by day.” Nadal, 37, pulled out of last week’s Monte Carlo Masters before it started because of a lingering injury, saying “my body simply won’t allow me.” In early March, the 22-time Grand Slam champion played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas but days later pulled out of the Indian Wells tournament. Nadal is a 14-time winner at the French Open which doesn’t begin until May 25.