Rafael Nadal made a return to the clay courts in Bastad after 19 years, teaming up with Casper Ruud to secure a victory in the first-round doubles match at the Nordea Open on Monday.
Nadal, who clinched the singles title in southern Sweden as a 19-year-old in 2005, is back to prepare for the Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.
In their match, Nadal and Ruud triumphed over second-seeded Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela with a score of 6-1, 6-4. The game was held in front of a packed crowd eager to watch the 38-year-old Spaniard play his first tour match since May, when he lost in the first round of the French Open to Alexander Zverev.
Nadal opted out of Wimbledon to avoid the transition from grass back to clay, aiming to reduce the risk of injury. He has been managing hip and abdominal injuries over the past year and a half.
Next, Nadal is set to face Leo Borg, son of Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg, in the first round of the Bastad singles tournament on Tuesday.
