After teasing fans with false starts, Rafael Nadal finally announces comeback

To play or not to play? That is the question. In a sequence of tournaments spanning Melbourne, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal persistently held on to the belief that he could make a comeback until the very last moment, only to eventually concede that his body "simply wouldn't allow" it.  

The 37-year-old tennis legend, who has battled with a string of injuries in recent years and has been absent from the court since January, had dedicated himself to intense training, striving to regain his form and rediscover the joy of the game. Regrettably, his efforts proved fruitless. But now, a much-anticipated turnaround has finally arrived. And what better stage for Nadal to make his triumphant return than his home country's Barcelona Open, a tournament where he has etched his name in history by capturing the title an astounding 12 times?

"It means a lot to me to be able to play one more time here in Barcelona, a place that I have amazing success and a lot of unforgettable memories," said the Spaniard, as he confirmed his participation in the Barcelona tournament during an press conference on Monday. His upcoming match against Italian Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday will mark his first return to clay since clinching the title at the 2022 French Open.

"I have many very good memories of this tournament," added Nadal. "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to be here in recent years. Luckily I was able to come here as a last-minute decision. I think, all things considered, the week of training has been positive. Tomorrow I will be on court."

"I am just trying to enjoy every moment and I am excited about being on court in a professional tournament again, especially here at home. I was not able to spend a lot of days on tour over the last two years, so I just want to enjoy every day I am able to play with the guys on a professional level. That means a lot for me."

Nadal experienced a muscle tear in the same area that had sidelined him for nearly a year, leading him to withdraw from both the Australian Open and the ATP 250 in Doha. As a result, he opted to tread cautiously and made the decision to skip the Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the Miami Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters, which are the opening three ATP Masters 1000 events of the season.

Meanwhile, Nadal's compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who was originally slated as the top seed, has unfortunately pulled out of the Barcelona tournament due to the arm injury that had previously forced him out of Monte Carlo. With Alcaraz's absence, the highest remaining seed in the tournament is Andrey Rublev, closely followed by Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and the reigning champion of Monte Carlo, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Reflecting on his decision, Alcaraz shared, "On Saturday morning, I underwent a test that showed some encouraging signs. This gave me hope that I could participate in the tournament. However, Sunday served as the true litmus test for us. It was the first day I hit forehands after the practice session in Monte Carlo, and unfortunately, it didn't go as we had hoped."  

"I could feel the discomfort resurfacing. With each increase in intensity during forehand shots, the discomfort became more pronounced," he continued. "It was a challenging decision to make, considering the significance of the tournament. Choosing not to participate was difficult not only for me but also for my family and my team."