Rafael Nadal's return to competitive tennis at the Barcelona Open was cut short as he fell to Alex de Minaur in the second round. The Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, had shown promise in his first-round victory over Flavio Cobolli but struggled to keep up with the in-form De Minaur.
Despite looking injury-free, Nadal was unable to find his rhythm against De Minaur, marking only his fifth defeat at the Barcelona Open, a tournament he has dominated with a record 12 titles. Nadal, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, had been on a hiatus since an exhibition match in March and had played only three competitive matches earlier in the year.
The loss raises questions about Nadal's participation in the upcoming Madrid Open and his readiness for the French Open, where he has been a dominant force with 14 titles. The 37-year-old has hinted that 2024 might be his final year on the tour, adding a sense of uncertainty to his future in the sport.
Roberto Bautista Agut Achieves Milestone Victory
Meanwhile, Roberto Bautista Agut notched his 400th tour-level victory with a hard-fought win over Andrea Vavassori. The 35-year-old Spaniard, known for his consistency and resilience, reflected on his achievement, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that have defined his career.
Other Results from the Barcelona Open
In other matches, third-seeded Casper Ruud advanced with a straight-sets victory, while sixth-seeded Ugo Humbert suffered a defeat at the hands of Dusan Lajovic. Ninth-seeded Nicolas Jarry was upset by qualifier Marco Trungelliti, and 14th-seeded Jordan Thompson secured a hard-fought win over Jaume Munar.
The Barcelona Open continues to showcase thrilling tennis action as players vie for supremacy on the clay courts. Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses.
