Tomorrow I can be on the court docket

Rafael Nadal formally put to mattress doubts about his participation on the ongoing Barcelona Open, confirning in his pre-tournament press convention that he can be again in motion on the ATP 500 occasion.

Nadal final performed this yr on the Brisbane Worldwide, the place an damage sustained throughout his run to the quarterfinals put the Spaniard on the sidelines till now. After a number of postponed comebacks, it is Barcelona the place Nadal has lastly regained full health to be aggressive on the prime stage.

Talking on website, the 12-time event champion admitted that he did not know till the final minute if he would be capable to play. However with Tuesday being his scheduled first-round conflict towards Flavio Cobolli, the 22-time Grand Slam champion proclaimed that he is assured sufficient to say that he can be stepping onto the court docket towards the Italian.

“I got here right here a little bit of a final minute resolution, as a result of I did not know if I used to be going to have the ability to play. Tomorrow I can be on the court docket,” Rafael Nadal stated.

The final time Nadal performed on clay was on the 2022 French Open, the place he beat Casper Ruud within the closing (June 5) to win his 14th Roland Garros title. After 680 days, the Mallorcan will play once more on the floor after lacking out the whole thing of the 2023 clay swing due to damage.

When the previous World No. 1 ends that absence come Tuesday, he’ll look to increase his title report at Barcelona within the absence of compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. The World No. 3 was the highest seed on the event initially however needed to withdraw on the final second attributable to discomfort in his proper arm.

Who’re Rafael Nadal’s greatest obstacles at Barcelona Open 2024?

A win within the opening spherical towards Flavio Cobolli will pit Rafael Nadal towards fourth seed Alex de Minaur within the second spherical of the 2024 Barcelona Open. After that, there are potential third-round and quarterfinal clashes towards sixteenth seed Arthur Fils and sixth seed Ugo Humbert respectively.

From the primary part, fifth seed Stefanos Tstisipas, just lately topped the champion on the Monte-Carlo Masters, is prone to advance to the semifinals. Second seed Andrey Rublev and third seed Casper Ruud are anticipated to battle it out for a spot within the closing from the underside half of the draw.