Rafael Nadal is eager to return to tennis at the Barcelona Open next week, a tournament he has won 12 times, after being sidelined since January.
Nadal, a winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, has only played in one exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz since he was affected by a hip injury in Brisbane before the Australian Open.
Speaking at the tournament draw ceremony on Saturday, Nadal shared his joy about returning to Barcelona, a city significant to him, emphasizing his excitement to reconnect with fans and fellow players. For his first match, he will compete against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who is ranked 63rd globally. As Nadal approaches his 38th birthday in June, he is focused on a steady return, aiming for a 15th French Open title. “I’m keen to carry on,” Nadal stated.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, who won the Barcelona Open in 2022 and 2023, is beginning his clay season after missing the Monte-Carlo Masters due to a right arm injury. Currently ranked third worldwide, Alcaraz has a first-round bye as the top seed and will face either Zhang Zhizhen of China or Luca Van Assche of France in the second round. There is high anticipation for a potential semifinal clash between Nadal and Alcaraz, especially after Alcaraz’s victory in their last dramatic match at the Netflix Slam.
