Rafael Nadal made a successful comeback to competitive tennis at the Barcelona Open, securing a comfortable first-round win against Flavio Cobolli. The Spanish tennis star, who had been away from the sport for over three months, displayed a solid performance in a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the Italian player.
Nadal, a 12-time champion at the clay-court tournament, expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that he played the type of match he needed to play. Despite acknowledging that he was not at full strength, Nadal was pleased with the win and the opportunity to compete at home.
The 37-year-old Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, emphasized the importance of taking it easy and not pushing himself too hard, especially with regards to his serving, as he continues to recover from injuries.
Meanwhile, World No. 8 Andrey Rublev faced a disappointing defeat at the hands of American Brandon Nakashima, marking his third consecutive first-round loss in recent tournaments. Rublev, visibly frustrated, smashed his racket during the match.
In other matches, Facundo Diaz Acosta upset 15th-seeded Borna Coric, while Tomas Machac and Roberto Carballes Baena secured victories in their respective matches.
Jaume Munar also had a convincing win over Yoshihito Nishioka, advancing to the next round of the tournament.
Nadal, who had hip surgery last summer, hinted that this could be his final appearance at the Barcelona Open, as he plans to retire from professional tennis in 2024.
The Barcelona Open continues to showcase thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, with players like Nakashima making significant strides in their careers.
