Rafael Nadal, who returned from injury at the Barcelona Open, came to an unexpected halt in the second round as he faced a 7-5, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Australian 4th seed Alex de Minaur.
The match, lasting an hour and 50 minutes, saw the Spanish veteran put up a valiant effort in the first set before succumbing to the Australian’s prowess in the second.
Despite his return to competitive action, the 37-year-old Nadal, a former world number one and 12-time champion in Barcelona, struggled to maintain his fitness against the world number 10. After securing a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Flavio Coboli in the opening round, Nadal expressed optimism about his form but acknowledged uncertainties about his ability to sustain the pace of the competition.
Nadal displayed glimpses of his renowned resilience in the first set, rallying back from early setbacks to lead 4-3 to the cheers of the 8,000-strong crowd. However, de Minaur’s relentless performance saw him break Nadal twice in crucial moments, ultimately clinching the set 7-5.
The second set witnessed a swift turnaround as de Minaur capitalized on Nadal’s fatigue, racing to a commanding 4-1 lead. Despite Nadal’s efforts to mount a comeback, the Australian held firm and closed out the match with authority, securing a comprehensive 6-1 victory.
For Nadal, this defeat marks a disappointing early exit from a tournament he has dominated over the years. As he approaches the twilight of his illustrious career, Nadal has hinted that this year may be his last in professional tennis, adding a bittersweet element to his farewell tour.
Amidst the disappointment, Nadal was met with an emotional ovation from the fans who have been witness to his extraordinary career and numerous triumphs over the years.
In other matches at the Barcelona Open, Roberto Bautista Agut fought back from a set down to defeat Andrea Vavassori 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while third seed Casper Ruud advanced to the third round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Alexandre Muller. However, sixth seed Ugo Humbert and ninth seed Nicolas Jarry suffered early exits, losing to Dusan Lajovic and Marco Trungelliti respectively.
As the Barcelona Open continues, fans eagerly anticipate further action-packed encounters and potential upsets in one of the most prestigious tournaments on the ATP Tour calendar.
