Rafael Nadal Returns to the Court at the Barcelona Open: Feeling Like His Last Dance

The Spanish Rafael Nadal returned to the circuit at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Trofeo Conde de Godó, a tournament he won twelve times, with the feeling of setting foot for the last time in one of the territories that gave him the most joy. In his debut, the Manacori beat the Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the competition and will next face the Australian Álex De Miñaur.

“I take it as my last year and I want to enjoy every moment,” he said in a press room full of journalists after completing his last training session at the RCT Barcelona-1899, in what was his attention prior to the premiere.

During the first set, Nadal was seen raising the level from less to more, pushed by the public, who applauded him at all times. The Spaniard took the first set after beating his rival 6-2 in 43 minutes of play. For the second he was able to break quickly and maintain the advantage with his serve, so in a short time he already won 2-0. Although the Italian got three games to add to the score, the experienced tennis player was solid and finished the match in one hour and 25 minutes after closing the second set at 6-3. On his return, the Spaniard did not have any major problems and showed a good level for the remainder of the competition.

“It has been a very positive week of training. I have been training here with players who have a high level and I have felt good. “I feel ready to compete,” Nadal had highlighted, who had not played an official match for three and a half months (102 days), since he lost in the third round of the ATP 250 in Brisbane against the British Jordan Thompson (6-7; 7 -6 and 6-3). At the end of that match, he suffered a micro muscle tear that prevented him from participating in the Australian Open later.

Toni Nadal, the tennis player’s uncle and former coach, made it clear that these would be the last shots of the legendary player: “Rafael will turn 38 (on June 3) and it is increasingly difficult for him to respond well. It won’t be an easy game for him. I don’t know how he is physically, but in training I have seen him very well.”

“I hope (Conde Godó) was not his last tournament. But at 38 years old he is aware that as the years go by it is more difficult for him to respond well,” said Toni Nadal about Rafael’s statements announcing that he will face the Conde de Godó, who he has won twelve times, as if it were his “last year”, in the Barcelona tournament.

It must be taken into account that Rafa had not played on clay for 681 days, the preferred surface in his career. The last time on clay was in June 2022, when he defeated Casper Ruud in the final of Roland Garros and lifted that trophy for the 14th time in his career. And if the ATP 500 in Barcelona is taken as a parameter, Nadal had not appeared at his house for three years, remembering that in 2021 he had won the title from the Greek Stéfanos Tsitsipas and won this trophy for the 12th time.

In relation to the next edition of his favorite Grand Slam, if he is fit, Nadal will be eligible for his fifteenth crown after being included in the pre-list of participants, published this Tuesday, thanks to his protected ranking. Thus, the Spaniard, who has plummeted in the ATP ranking after spending a year competing little or not at all due to injuries, could say he is present in the territory where he is absolute king.

Nadal had not played on clay for two years (Photo: Pau Barrena / AFP)

The 71st edition of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Trofeo Conde de Godó, which is held at the RCT Barcelona-1899 until April 21, had the local legend, but finally it will not be able to count on the also Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the two last editions, who stated that he did not have a good feeling in the previous training sessions and chose to withdraw from Godó, as the discomfort in his right arm persisted and prevented him from playing in Monte Carlo.

Regarding the Argentines within the tournament, Peque Diego Schwartzman fell 6-1 and 6-2 against Dusan Lajovic, while Facundo Díaz Acosta managed to access the next round after beating Borna Coric (6-2 and 7 -5) and Sebastián Báez lost to the Italian Arnaldi (5-7, 7-6 and 6-2). In the last round, Tomás Etcheverry won 7-5 and 6-2 over Hardt. Marco Trungelliti, for his part, will play the second round tomorrow against the Chilean Nicolás Jarry after having reached the main draw from qualifying.

2024-04-16 22:53:37
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