Rafael Nadal mentioned he had restricted expectations on the Barcelona Open as he made a triumphant return from damage on Tuesday, beating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3. The 22-time Grand Slam champion had not performed a aggressive match since January however eased previous the 62nd-ranked Cobolli in 85 minutes to achieve the second spherical. The former world primary has seen his rating slip to 644 after lacking the entire 2023 season following the Australian Open. His comeback firstly of this yr hit a stumbling block when he felt a hip damage flare up in Brisbane.
For Nadal, a 12-time winner in Barcelona, it was his first look on clay since he gained the French Open virtually two years in the past, however the Spaniard was eager to not get forward of himself.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, final week’s Monte Carlo Masters champion, mentioned earlier this week he would not be shocked to see Nadal to achieve the ultimate on a court docket named after him.
“Today to say that I am favourite I think is stupidity, Tsitsipas knows that it’s not the case,” mentioned Nadal, who turns 38 in June.
“I understand what he says as respect for what I have done in this tournament. Everybody knows I am not favourite to win a tournament.”
“I didn’t have the slightest idea if I was favourite today, I know tomorrow I will not be,” added Nadal, who performs fourth seed Alex de Minaur on Wednesday for a spot within the final 16.
“But it doesn’t matter, I will go out and play and it will be an experience against a top level player.”
After a double fault to fall 30-Zero behind Nadal discovered his rhythm, with Cobolli intimidated by the fervent help for the Spaniard on the court docket named after him.
Nadal transformed his third break level within the fourth recreation for a 3-1 lead, with Cobolli surviving 4 extra to carry at 4-2 down.
The Spaniard broke once more to assert the set in 43 minutes, clenching his fist in celebration.
Cobolli handed Nadal a break for 2-Zero within the second set with two extra unforced errors however lastly put some stress on Nadal’s serve within the third recreation to interrupt again.
However Nadal broke once more for 3-1 after Cobolli’s third double fault and served it out to triumph.
“It was a good start — when you return you can’t get rid of the doubts in one day, above all, on a physical level,” Nadal advised TVE.
“Within what it could be, it was a good first round. He made mistakes and I think I played the game that I had to play.”
Brandon Nakashima dumped a raging Andrey Rublev out within the first spherical with a 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory.
The American, ranked 87th, ousted the world quantity eight, who made 5 double faults and solely compelled one break level within the match.
Nakashima edged the primary set by breaking the Russian within the ninth recreation for 5-Four after which surviving a break level earlier than serving out.
Rublev, second seed on the event, saved 4 second-set break factors however tumbled to defeat within the tie-break after sending a backhand lengthy.
The Russian smashed his racket repeatedly on the bottom earlier than storming off.
Carlos Alcaraz, champion in Barcelona in 2022 and 2023, withdrew on Sunday with a forearm damage.
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