More positive news has been shared about Rafael Nadal, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion looking more certain to appear at the Barcelona Open after a practice set with Andrey Rublev.
The tennis legend has been repeatedly struck by injury problems for more than a year. His only matches since the 2023 Australian Open were at the start of this season in Brisbane, where he sustained another injury.
His latest withdrawal was from this week's Monte-Carlo Masters, an event he has won on 11 occasions. That made many very doubtful that he would be ready for the Barcelona Open taking place the so soon after.
However, Nadal continued to train on clay after withdrawing from the tournament in Monte-Carlo, demonstrating that he was still hopeful of being ready in time to compete in Barcelona.
Nadal then gave another health update after this. In it, he said he was in Barcelona and was going to try and do everything he could to be ready to play at the tournament he has won an incredible 12 times.
Now, footage has emerged from Nadal's practice set with Rublev. The Spaniard feeling able to play a practice session with a Top 10 player like Rublev is a very positive sign, regardless of the result.
Yet, the news gets even better for Nadal supporters. He surprisingly defeated Rublev very easily in the practice session 6-1. Although it was not in a competitive match, this is still a very notable outcome for Nadal after so long out.
The sensations for the 14-time French Open champion were very good throughout the practice set. At one point, he asked his coach, Carlos Moya, how he was serving. It is likely to have been very well after beating Rublev so comprehensively.
Nadal is likely to play on Tuesday in Barcelona if he does decide he is ready to feature. The possibility of that happening is stronger after this latest news.
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