July 15, (THEWILL) – In a remarkable return to competitive tennis, Rafael Nadal, the 38-year-old Spanish tennis legend, made his first appearance since his early exit from the French Open in May.
Teaming up with 25-year-old Norwegian player, Casper Ruud, Nadal earned a doubles victory at the Nordea Open in Båstad, Sweden. The duo triumphed over second seeds Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela in a rain-interrupted match on the clay courts.
The match, which ended 6-1 6-4 in favour of Nadal and Ruud, marked a significant milestone in Nadal’s preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Despite two brief suspensions due to inclement weather, the wild card entries demonstrated their prowess on the Swedish clay, completing the match in 79 minutes. Nadal, who last played singles in Båstad as a 19-year-old champion in 2005, expressed his joy at returning to the tournament after nearly two decades.
This strategic comeback follows Nadal’s decision to skip Wimbledon, focusing instead on the Olympic Games to be held at Roland Garros, where he has claimed an unprecedented 14 French Open titles. The 22-time Grand Slam champion plans to compete in both singles and doubles events in Paris, partnering with recent Wimbledon winner, Carlos Alcaraz, in the latter. Nadal’s enthusiasm was palpable as he praised Alcaraz’s Wimbledon victory and the Spanish national football team’s Euro 2024 triumph, calling it “an amazing day for Spanish sport”.
Another intriguing twist to his singles campaign in Båstad is that Nadal is set to face Leo Borg, the 21-year-old son of tennis icon, Bjorn Borg. This matchup has garnered significant attention, bridging generations of tennis excellence.
Meanwhile, Ruud, Nadal’s doubles partner and a product of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, expressed his delight at sharing the court with the veteran player, playfully commenting on Nadal’s resilience in the face of the match’s stop-start nature due to rain delays.
The Spanish maestro’s comeback not only highlights his enduring passion for the sport but also sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting summer of tennis, culminating in the Olympic Games where Nadal aims to add to his already illustrious career achievements.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
