The Majorcan, who fell to 646th in the world, took part in the draw for one of his favorite tournaments this Saturday. He will face the Italian Cobolli on Tuesday. He had not played on the circuit since his defeat in the quarter-final of the Brisbane tournament.
Rafael Nadal hoped to make his return to competition at the Barcelona tournament, after his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo. The Majorcan, and it is now official, figures well in the table of the tournament which has seen him triumph twelve times, including the first time almost twenty years ago, in 2005. Rafael Nadal will be opposed to the Italian Flavio Cobolli, 63rd player in the world.
Having turned pro in 2020, Cobolli has few references on ocher on the ATP circuit, even if clay remains his favorite surface. This could offer Rafael Nadal a relatively interesting start, he who has only played three official matches (loss in the quarterfinals in Brisbane this year) since his injury in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open. Spaniard, who will celebrate his 38th birthday on June 3 in the middle of Roland-Garros, is now only 646th in the world.
Some doubts have accompanied in recent weeks a player whose body has been tormented by injuries for several seasons and who has continued to postpone his return to competition since the start of 2024. An abdominal injury has even raised fears of a new package in Barcelona but seeing him hit with such intensity in training with Andrey Rublev, you would almost swear that the Mallorcan has regained all his physical resources.
In any case, he seems to consider himself sufficiently ready to defend his chances in the Barcelona tournament table. Rafael Nadal will make his big debut in the table on Tuesday, with the prospect of facing the Australian Alex De Minaur in the second round. An easy winner over Stan Wawrinka (6-0, 6-0) for his entry into the competition in Monte-Carlo, De Minaur made life difficult for Novak Djokovic (7-5, 6-4) in the quarter-final despite a defeat in two sets.
For Rafael Nadal, this 2024 season should “very probably” be the last of his career. “Even if I haven’t decided 100%,” he nevertheless clarified to La Sexta. “I don’t know how many events I have left to play, but my feeling is that I don’t have many left. My main objective is to approach the clay court season in the best possible way. Roland- Garros (from May 26) is one of my goals. I would also like to participate in the Olympic Games. Afterwards, you never know, if in three months I feel good and healthy, and what my family wants. that I continue… Although, with my background, it is difficult for me to imagine this scenario I am very aware of the difficulties I am in a situation where thinking of great things and great successes is very difficult for me. me today. My wish is to retire on the field.”
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2024-04-13 11:57:54
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