Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal made a comeback to tennis action on Tuesday as the 37-year-old played in the first round of the Barcelona Open. It was a successful outing for the 22-time Grand Slam champion as he thumped his opponent, Flavio Cobolli in straight sets of 6-2, 6-3 in front of a packed stadium. Nadal was happy and so were his fans.
Meanwhile, his former coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, also shared his wishes for Rafa. He wished to see Nadal playing beyond the 2024 season, but was quick to admit that the Spaniard’s body is not coping with him.
Toni Nadal pointed out that it is taking longer for Nadal’s body to recover from injuries and hence it is getting difficult for him to play consistently on the tour. It is worth mentioning that this was Nadal’s fourth match of the 2024 season.
In fact, the 37-year-old has played only eight matches in the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined. Injuries have kept the veteran away from the tennis court. Despite all the odds, Nadal is finding ways to stay in the hunt for more titles and thus, his uncle wishes him to play beyond 2024.
I hope to see Rafa play beyond 2024. However, he turns 38 in June, and his body does not respond like when he was younger. It will be challenging against Cobolli, a young player ranked in the top-60. Rafa has trained well, but the competitive matches are always different. Toni Nadal via Tennis World USA
Rafael Nadal chuffed to bits about the support he received
Rafael Nadal‘s return to action was always going to be a great spectacle, and it proved the same when the 37-year-old took on Cobolli in the first round of the Barcelona Open. Having won as many as 12 Barcelona titles, Nadal is always a favorite in the tournament and he justified it by securing a straight-set win.
The stadium was packed to its capacity as tennis fans enjoyed every bit of Nadal’s comeback. The Spanish legend, meanwhile, also loved the warmth and support he received on his return. Nadal thanked the crowd for their support and said that it meant a lot to him.
The crowd was great. A full crowd since the beginning. Even before the match started, the court was full, so that means a lot to me to be able to walk on court today and feel that warmth and that support. In a very special place for me, it’s so helpful and means a lot to me to receive that support and that love. Rafael Nadal said in the post-match press conference
Notably, around 8,500 fans were present at the stadium when Nadal locked horns with the Italian youngster. The Spaniard ensured these fans didn’t go back disappointed as he stamped his authority with a win. Nadal will next face Alex de Minaur, who has been on the rise in the past few months.
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