By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Living tennis legend Rafael Nadal will be looking to gain more rhythm and confidence after booking his slot in the upcoming Madrid Open that will kick off today in Madrid, Spain.
After exiting the 2024 Barcelona Open in just the second round of the tournament when he lost against Alex de Minaur in a grueling two-set encounter, Nadal is seeking to bounce back and will hope for a positive result in the clay court of the Caja Magica in Manzanares Park, San Fermin.
Nadal will begin his campaign at 4:00 PM today, against the uprising American prodigy Darwin Blanch in the Round of 128 of the Madrid Open.
Last April 16, 2024, Nadal made a triumphant return to the sport of lawn tennis during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club Tenis de Barcelona in Spain.
Nadal halted his hiatus and came back with a bang after blanking Flavio Cobolli of Italy- 6.2, 6.3- during his first match.
After two months of taking a break from the sport due to several injuries, Nadal hinted at his Grand Slam return after surprising his fans with his participation in Barcelona.
Not only did he show up at the match venue, but Nadal also played as if he never left and gave the crowd a moment to remember.
Everything was still there. his signature top-spin forehand bombs, his heavy service game, and his relentless drive in chasing the drop balls were all witnessed by his fans.
However, his bid for a title in Barcelona shattered after de Minaur stood his way in the second round of the prestigious tournament.
With the main aim of joining the 2024 Roland Garros, Nadal will look to sweep all the clay court events in preparation for the Grand Slam tournament.
