Rafael Nadal is eyeing a comeback at the Barcelona Open this week even as Carlos Alcaraz is unlikely to play.
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NADAL EYES BARCELONA COMEBACK IN ‘LAST-MINUTE DECISION’
Nadal is hoping his latest comeback attempt becomes a reality at the Barcelona Open before his home crowd.
The former world No.1 last played in Brisbane in January and skipped several tournaments, including the Monte Carlo Masters.
Nadal is optimistic that his last-minute decision to play in Barcelona will become a reality.
“I arrived here… in a last-minute decision as I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion said.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to be on the court,” he added.
NADAL EYES COMEBACK BEFORE RETIRING AFTER 2024 SEASON
Nadal is eying his latest comeback in the hope of playing in the French Open and the Paris Olympics this year.
The 37-year-old Mallorca native is looking at those two major tournaments before retiring at the end of the 2024 season.
Nadal had aborted comebacks at Indian Wells and Monte Carlo due to recovery from his hip injury last year.
The Spaniard hopes to open his Barcelona Open campaign against Flavcio Cobolli of Italy.
CARLOS ALCARAZ UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN BARCELONA OPEN
While Nadal is hoping for a comeback, his fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is unlikely to play in Barcelona.
Alcaraz is nursing an arm injury that was also blamed for his non-appearance in Monte Carlo.
The world No.3, instead, is looking to return at the Madrid Open on April 24.
Should Alcaraz go on a deep run there, he might spend his 21st birthday in the finals on May 5.
“My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain,” he said.
“I can’t say I’ll be 100% in Madrid, but that’s my intention. We’ll train and do everything we can so that the feelings improve so I can play a match.”
