Rafael Nadal enjoyed a straightforward homecoming at the Barcelona Open after 102 days on the sidelines, but questions about his physical state remain. Before Tuesday, 22-time major champion Nadal had not played a competitive tennis match since January at the Brisbane Open. Hip and abdominal injuries have affected him ever since, curtailing what is expected to be his farewell season. After pulling out of last week’s Monte Carlo tournament, 37-year-old Nadal was adamant about returning on the cla
Rafael Nadal said he had limited expectations at the Barcelona Open as he made a triumphant return from injury on Tuesday, beating Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3.Nadal converted his third break point in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead, with Cobolli surviving four more to hold at 4-2 down.
The former world number one was playing his first match since suffering a hip muscle injury in January.