Despite not having yet reappeared on the courts, after a year of absence due to physical problems, Rafa Nadal confirmed this Monday that he will return to compete in his second home, a tournament marked in red always on his calendar throughout his long career. and successful career: the Open Banc Sabadell Conde de Godó Trophy that will be played between April 13 and 21, 2024.
The Mallorcan is the first player who has confirmed his presence on the courts of the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona when there are still four months left for the 71st edition. A sign of his loyalty to Nadal’s Godó, who has been in the final draw of the tournament 16 times and has won the title 12 times. His last participation was in 2021, when he was proclaimed champion after beating the Greek Stéfanos Tsitsipas in a very close final (6-4, 6-7 (6) and 7-5).
Nadal, who has been a member of RCTB-1899 since he was 11, maintains a commitment to the Catalan capital that goes beyond the sporting aspect, since since 2014 his Foundation has collaborated with the Barcelona Tennis Foundation in the solidarity project ‘Play All’ dedicated to young people at risk of social exclusion.
The winner of 22 Grand Slams will compete again in the next Brisbane tournament, which begins on December 31. It will be the prelude to his first big goal of the season, an Australian Open where last season he suffered an iliopsoas injury during the second round match against Mackenzie McDonald.
After suffering his umpteenth physical problem in Melbourne, on January 18, the man from Manacor decided to take a break from his career to completely heal his body. “It has not been a bed of roses, far from it. It has been a quite twisty and tortuous path, with many curves,” Nadal said in a recent interview with the ATP about a recovery process, with passage through the operating room, in which that he even thought about retreating.
At 37 years old, the current number 666 in the ATP ranking, his lowest position since 2002 due to his inactivity, he has been training in recent weeks in Kuwait, where French tennis player Arthur Fils has accompanied him to polish his set-up. . In Brisbane, in a minor tournament, he will face the litmus test to find out how his physique responds to face the season of his farewell to professional tennis, but not before making a stop at his beloved Conde de Godó Trophy.