Rafael Nadal has been apparently playing at a very high level ahead of the 2024 Bastad Open, and his practice partner warned his future opponents.
Nadal's last singles match was at Roland Garros, where he played against Alexander Zvreev and lost in three sets. The Spaniard didn't look his best but still showed great level at times, just not consistently throughout the match.
He's been practicing since then, and it seems to have improved his level because the 38-year-old is looking strong in Bastad. He started his campaign in the Swedish city with a win in doubles with Casper Ruud, and he will start his singles campaign at the ATP 250 tournament against home wild card Leo Borg.
According to Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who practiced with the 14-time Roland Garros champion, the Spaniard is playing at a high level, which is great to hear ahead of the Olympics.
"The place we’re practising in is crazy… and Nadal is going at it, I’d say he’s playing very well. I’ve had the chance to ask him things, ask for advice, and he was always very humble, helping, making progress, and he had a lot of time for everyone."
Nadal's comeback was always going to be about time. His Roland Garros experience wasn't what he wanted it to be because he needed more matches and more regular competition to find something that could look like his best tennis.
That's why he came to Bastad: to play more matches and to see where he is ahead of the Paris Olympics, which are just ten days away. In the singles match he'll play again today, Leo Borg will try to show his qualities in front of the home crowd, but the Swedish player is not at Nadal's level, and it should sow in the match.