Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, will make his long-awaited return to the court at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Thursday. His first opponent will be Milos Raonic, a former world No. 3 who has been struggling with injuries in recent years.
The match will be a rematch of their 2015 Indian Wells quarterfinal, which Raonic won in straight sets. Nadal has won seven of their nine previous encounters, but Raonic has always been a dangerous opponent.
Nadal has not played a competitive match since the Australian Open in January, where he lost in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald. He has been dealing with a foot injury that has hampered him for much of the past year.
Raonic, meanwhile, has played just one match in 2023, losing to Andy Murray in the first round of the Qatar Open. He has been battling a heel injury that has kept him out of action for most of the season.
Despite their recent struggles, both Nadal and Raonic are still capable of playing at a high level. Nadal is one of the greatest players of all time, and Raonic is a former Grand Slam finalist.
The winner of their match will likely face Holger Rune in the third round. Rune is a rising star who has won two ATP titles this year. He is currently ranked No. 10 in the world.
Nadal is the top seed at Indian Wells, and he is looking to win his first title at the tournament since 2013. He has been drawn in the same half as Novak Djokovic, the world No. 1.
Raonic is unseeded at Indian Wells, but he has the potential to cause an upset. He is a big server with a powerful forehand.
The match between Nadal and Raonic is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. PT on Thursday. It will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel.
Tags: #RafaelNadal#MilosRaonic#BNPParbasOpen#IndianWells#Tennis
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