Rafael Nadal recently held his first practice session at the Nordea Open in front of a jam-packed crowd in Bastad, Sweden. The Spaniard, known for his elegance on the court and humbleness off it, also took some time out to interact with his fans.
Nadal’s return to Bastad after nearly two decades generated a significant amount of enthusiasm and anticipation from the fans in Sweden. His return has a certain significance, as Bastad was the location of one of his early career triumphs.The Spaniard’s run in 2024 so far has been plagued with injuries and unanticipated setbacks with a hip-related issue earlier in the season ruling him out of the Australian Open.
He also had a disappointing performance at the French Open, resulting in an end to his record-breaking run of consecutive wins at the tournament, which has raised further questions about his future and ability to perform at the highest level.
However, Rafael Nadal is back on track and was seen in Bastad, signing autographs and interacting with his devoted fans who waited outside to see him play.
Rafael Nadal Returns to Nordea Open after nearly 2 decades since his victorious run in 2005
Rafael Nadal, who was last seen competing in Bastad in 2005, where he reigned supreme, is all set to partner with Casper Ruud to play doubles at the tournament for the first time this year. The duo share a great bond as the Norwegian has described the Spaniard as his sporting idol and has trained at his academy since 2018.
The Nordea Open, also referred to as the Swedish Open, is a part of the ATP 250 series, which usually takes place in the month of July at the pinnacle of the claycourt season in Europe. The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 15–21.
The event will serve as a key part of Nadal’s preparation leading to the Paris Olympics where he is set to compete in both singles and doubles, teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz.
Nordea Open is all set to feature a strong field of players including defending champion, Andrey Rublev, and Cameron Norrie. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was also scheduled to play but withdrew due to fatigue following his quarterfinal exit from Wimbledon.Nadal will return to tennis action in Bastad for the first time since his first-round loss to Alexander Zverev at the French Open.
