The Spaniard beat Flavio Cobolli in the first round of the ATP 500 in Barcelona on Tuesday, even though he had not played since the tournament in Brisbane at the beginning of January.
France Télévisions – Sports Editorial
Published on 04/16/2024 6:36 p.m. Updated on 04/16/2024 6:53 p.m.
Reading time: 1 min Rafael Nadal during his match against Flavio Cobolli in the first round of the ATP 500 in Barcelona (Spain), April 16, 2024. (PAU BARRENA / AFP)
He put his feet back on the ground. After his abortive return in January, where he only played three matches in Brisbane before giving up the Australian Open, the American tour then Monte-Carlo due to repeated pain, Rafael Nadal found his surface favorite, Tuesday April 16. For his first appearance on clay in almost two years, during his 14th coronation at Roland-Garros in 2022, the Spaniard beat Flavio Cobolli in the first round of the ATP 500 in Barcelona (6-2, 6-3 ).
Rafael Nadal, who appeared rather sharp, reassured about his state of form: quite efficient on serve (only two break points conceded) and regular in the rally, the Spaniard controlled the game to win without difficulty. Faced with a young opponent (21 years old) comfortable on clay and on the rise (62nd in the world, best ranking of his career), the “Taurus of Manacor” also had time to offer the public some nice shots winners along the line of which he has the secret. He broke quickly in both sets before managing his advantage, never in physical difficulty.
“I tried [de revenir] several times in my careerRafael Nadal told Eurosport after the match. Each time it’s harder, especially when you’re older. I’m going through complicated times. At the same time, when I can be in a tournament for a few days and train well, and then compete, it means a lot to me. It’s still nice enough for me to keep going.”
Having fallen to 644th in the world after two almost blank years, Rafael Nadal will face Alex De Minaur (11th) in the next round, eliminated in the quarter-finals of Monte-Carlo by Novak Djokovic. A first test on the road to Roland-Garros, which constitutes the main objective of what could be his last professional season.
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2024-04-16 16:36:02
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