Former world number one Rafael Nadal staged a comeback victory against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs in the opening round of the Italian Open in Rome. The 37-year-old, a 10-time champion in Rome, secured the win with a score of 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Nadal, who has announced his intention to retire after the 2024 season, expressed satisfaction with his performance on his favored clay surface, despite not being at his peak. He acknowledged his game’s unpredictability due to limited play over the past two years but expressed confidence in his ability to improve.
Returning from a three-month injury absence, Nadal reached the last 16 of the Madrid Open before his appearance in Rome. In a challenging start on clay, he faced tough opposition from Bergs, ranked 108th in the world.
After a medical emergency in the crowd briefly interrupted play, Nadal displayed improved form in the second set, swiftly taking a 3-0 lead and eventually leveling the match. He continued his momentum in the third set, breaking early and overcoming deficits to secure victory.
Nadal’s win sets up a second-round encounter with Polish world number nine Hubert Hurkacz, as he prepares for his final appearance at the French Open later this month.
In other matches, Britain’s Jack Draper advanced to the second round with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Croatia’s Borna Coric, setting up a clash with defending champion Daniil Medvedev. However, fellow Briton Dan Evans was eliminated from the tournament after a hard-fought match against Italian Fabio Fognini, with Fognini winning 6-4 3-6 6-2 in a contest lasting two hours and 32 minutes.
