Rafael Nadal made a triumphant return to the clay courts in Bastad after a 19-year absence, partnering with Casper Ruud to secure a victory in the first-round doubles match at the Nordea Open on Monday. The Spanish tennis star, who clinched the singles title in southern Sweden back in 2005 at the age of 19, is back on familiar territory as he gears up for the upcoming Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.
Nadal and Ruud displayed their prowess on the court by defeating the second-seeded duo of Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela with a convincing scoreline of 6-1, 6-4. The match, witnessed by a packed crowd eager to see the 38-year-old Nadal in action, marked his first tour appearance since his early exit from the French Open in May, where he fell to Alexander Zverev in the opening round.
The decision to skip Wimbledon was a strategic one for Nadal, who opted to maintain his focus on clay surfaces and avoid the risk of injury from transitioning to grass courts and back. Battling through hip and abdominal injuries over the past year and a half, Nadal's cautious approach underscores his commitment to long-term fitness and performance.
Looking ahead, Nadal is scheduled to face Leo Borg, the son of Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg, in the first round of the Bastad singles tournament on Tuesday. As Nadal continues his clay court campaign, fans and critics alike eagerly anticipate his performance and resilience in the upcoming matches.
