After a bumpy start to what was supposed to be a comeback season, four-time US Open singles champion Rafael Nadal returned to his favorite surface with gusto on Tuesday afternoon, giving his fans a flicker of hope during what may be the Spaniard’s final days on the tennis tour.
Nadal missed the rest of the 2023 season after suffering a hip injury at the Australian Open, and had to withdraw from his planned tournaments after reaching the quarterfinals in Brisbane at the start of this year due to more injury concerns. He had only played four matches in 2024—three in Brisbane and one exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas—prior to stepping on the clay court named for him at the Barcelona Open, where he has lifted the trophy an astounding 12 times.
The 6-2, 6-3 scoreline against Italian Flavio Cobolli marked a promising start to his clay swing, which he made no secret of being focus all along. Nadal has always been dominant on the red clay, hoisting 14 Roland Garros titles, and he said he has been hoping to return to his beloved Court Philippe-Chatrier during the French slam, as well as the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tuesday's affair was the 37-year-old’s first match on the surface since he played at Roland Garros in 2022, but it took him less than 90 minutes to defeat Cobolli. Nadal broke the world No. 62 twice in the first set and once in the second, and only faced two break points, one of which he saved.
Nadal may be one of tennis’ all-time greats, but especially after 23 years on tour and a recent surgery, he acknowledged that it’s not easy to stay at the top of the game. However, he still loves spending time on the court and being back on tour after his extended absence last year.
“Every time it is more difficult, and especially when you are at an advanced age it makes things even tougher,” he said. “I am going through tough moments, but at the same time when I am able to be on the tour for a few days and practice with the guys and then be able to compete a little bit, it means a lot to me and still enjoyable enough to keep doing.”
The 37-year-old continues to maintain a chief goal of competing at the year's second Grand Slam, Roland Garros, which begins at the end of May. He's won the title in Paris 11 times.
