Rafael Nadal has confirmed he’ll play this week’s Barcelona Open in what would be the Spaniard’s first event because the Brisbane International in January.
And if he wins his opening match he’ll face Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur within the second spherical.
“I arrived here a bit like in a last minute decision as I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play,” the 22-time grand slam champion instructed a press convention on Monday.
“Tomorrow I’m going to be on the court.”
It is prone to be the courtroom that bears his title.
His first match can be towards 21-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday. The winner will meet de Minaur, who has acquired a primary spherical bye. The pair have met 4 instances however solely as soon as since 2020, within the United Cup final 12 months when de Minaur, on residence soil, beat the Spanish nice.
Whoever comes by might then play one other Australian, Alexei Popyrin, who begins his event towards Daniel Altmaier with the winner to face Arthur Fils.
The third Australian within the occasion, Jordan Thompson, has a primary spherical bye. Partnering de Minaur he misplaced on Monday within the doubles to fourth-seeded pair Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Santiago Gonzalez 6-2 7-5.
It was Thompson who was throughout the web the final time Nadal performed, the third spherical loss in Brisbane coming after virtually a 12 months out for Nadal, sidelined by a hip flexor damage.
Nadal, 37, withdrew from final week’s Monte Carlo Masters, saying his physique was not prepared for competitors. The former world No.1 has mentioned he expects to retire after this season however is determined to play at subsequent month’s French Open the place he has gained a report 14 titles.
He has gained the Barcelona title on 12 events however has not performed within the claycourt occasion since 2021.
On courtroom Roberto Bautista Agut earned his 399th tour-level victory by defeating Roman Safiullin 6-3 7-6 (10-8) on Rafael Nadal courtroom. The Spaniard, who turned 36 on Sunday, could have his first alternative to succeed in the milestone four-hundredth win towards seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov on Tuesday.
Qualifier Nick Hardt turned the primary Dominican to win an ATP match in six years after defeating Martin Landaluce 2-6 6-4 6-3 whereas American Brandon Nakashima defeated 2023 semifinalist Daniel Evans, of Britain, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
