Rafael Nadal, the 12-time Barcelona Open champion, confirmed his participation in the tournament on Monday, despite a recent hip injury. The Spaniard, who hasn't played a clay-court match since winning the French Open in 2022, expressed his excitement to return to the court in Barcelona.
"I came here a bit of a last-minute decision, because I didn't know if I was going to be able to play," Nadal said. "But tomorrow I will be on the court."
Nadal's return to Barcelona is a significant moment for the tournament and his fans. The 37-year-old has a remarkable 66-4 record at the ATP 500 event, including a victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2021 final.
"It means a lot to me to play one more time here in Barcelona, in a place that I have amazing success and a lot of unforgettable memories," Nadal said.
While Nadal's long-term future in tennis remains uncertain, he hasn't set a definitive timeline for retirement. Should he advance past his first-round opponent, Flavio Cobolli, Nadal will face fourth seed Alex de Minaur.
The Barcelona Open has also been affected by the withdrawal of two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz, who pulled out on Sunday due to injury. Fabian Marozsan has been moved into Alcaraz's spot as the No. 17 seed.
Nadal's return to Barcelona is a testament to his enduring passion for the sport and his desire to compete at the highest level. The tournament will provide a valuable opportunity for him to assess his fitness and form ahead of the upcoming clay-court season.
Tags: #RafaelNadal, #BarcelonaOpen, #Tennis, #ClayCourt, #InjuryReturn
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