TNT Sports
Rafael Nadal makes triumphant clay return after emphatic win over Flavio Cobolli at Barcelona Open - 'Means a lot to me'
By
Published 16/04/2024 at 18:31 GMT+1
Rafael Nadal showed no signs of rustiness as he comfortably prevailed past Flavio Cobolli in the first round of the Barcelona Open. The Spaniard produced a stellar display on home soil, and made relatively light work of the Italian to advance into the second round. Later in the day, British No.1 Cameron Norrie booked his place in the third round after Frenchman Harold Mayot was forced to retire.
'It's a strange feeling' - Djokovic opens up on missing rivalry with Federer and Nadal
Video credit: SNTV
Rafael Nadal made an emphatic return to clay, cruising to a 6-2 6-3 win over Flavio Cobolli in the first round of the Barcelona Open.
The 37-year-old ended an almost two-year wait to compete on the surface once again after winning the 2022 French Open men's singles final, and dispatched the Italian in the space of one hour and 25 minutes.
Nadal confirmed his intention to compete in Barcelona on Monday, in a competition he has won a record 12 times.
After already missing the Australian Open, Indian Wells and the Monte-Carlo Masters, the 22-time Grand Slam winner rolled back the years in Catalonia.
This was a routine win for Nadal in his first meeting against the Italian, who was straining every sinew to keep himself in the contest.
After the opening three games went by way of serve, his admirable early resistance was ended when the Spaniard claimed his first break to lead 3-1.
Cobolli claimed a hard-fought hold at 2-4 after surviving four Nadal break points, but only prolonged the inevitable, as Nadal broke through the Italian's serve again to draw first blood at 6-2 after a mere 43 minutes of play.
The world No. 62 was then a set and a break down at 0-2, and the writing looked very much on the wall for the Italian.
He broke back immediately, but surrendered on his serve once again and failed to gain any sort of momentum in this triumphant return to Nadal's favoured surface.
The Spaniard sealed the contest on his second match point with a hold to 15, and will face what looks set to be a much stiffer test against the fourth seed Alex De Minaur on Wednesday.
Speaking after the match, he said: “I have done that [come back from challenges] a lot of times in my career; it’s true that it gets more difficult when you are at an advanced age.
“I am going through tough moments, but at the same time, when I am able to be on the tour for a few days and practice with the guys and then compete a little bit, means a lot to me.
“It’s still enjoyable enough for me to keep doing it.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/04/06/3944276-80099228-2560-1440.png)
‘For the sake of all tennis’ - Djokovic wants Nadal to ‘play at least one more tournament’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Norrie into round three as Mayot retires
Cameron Norrie claimed his first clay court win in Europe this spring, after French qualifier Harold Mayot was forced to retire in their Barcelona Open second-round clash.
Both players contested a gruelling two hours and 11 minutes of play, as Norrie prevailed with the score at 7-6(3) 6-7(6) after Mayot was forced to retire due to injury.
The British No.1 has endured a series of disappointments on clay this season, after a shock semi-final defeat to Mariano Navone in Rio de Janeiro, and subsequent first-round exits in Buenos and Monte-Carlo respectively.
He was not having things his own way here either, as the qualifier was looking impenetrable on his serve.
With neither player offering much encouragement for an elusive break of serve, a tie-break inevitably followed.
Norrie eventually prevailed after taking the first of three set points, as Mayot hit a wide return to curtail an opening set which lasted just shy of an hour.
The Frenchman responded with an early break in the second with a convincing hold to 15, but Norrie broke back immediately to start a topsy-turvy set.
After a further break of serve for each player, Norrie saw the first of four match points go by the wayside to allow the 22-year-old a crucial hold at 5-5.
It looked like the Brit had finally broken free with three more match points in the tie-break, but Mayot incredibly managed to break Norrie twice more to win the tie-break 8-6 and take it into a decider.
However, Mayot was visibly struggling at times with what appeared to be a groin injury and allowed Norrie to scrape through.
He will face the winner of the match between Andrea Vavassori and Roberto Bautista-Agut, which takes place on Wednesday.
- - -
Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement