Rafael Nadal teamed with Casper Ruud to notch a 6-1 6-4 Swedish Open doubles victory towards second seeds Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela on Monday in a profitable return, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Competing on the ATP 250 for the primary time since he lifted the singles title as a 19-year-old in 2005, Nadal instantly checked out dwelling on the Swedish clay.
The victory was Nadal’s first aggressive match since he fell to Alexander Zverev on Could 27 within the opening spherical at Roland Garros. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will tackle Leo Borg, son of ATP legend Bjorn Borg, in his opening singles match on Tuesday, reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
“It is a pleasure taking part in with a very good buddy and a tremendous participant like Casper right here in Bastad,” mentioned Nadal within the pair’s on-court interview. “Personally, I’m completely happy and I believe it was a very good match. We performed fairly nicely within the first time we performed collectively and I am completely happy to be again right here after nearly 20 years.
“I’ve nice recollections from this place from 2003, 2004 and 2005, so I’m having fun with this week and hopefully can preserve going.”
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Nadal received a ‘mind-boggling’ level after he powered down a sensational forehand on the Swedish Open in his return
With each the Spaniard and Ruud placing their groundstrokes powerfully all through, the wildcard pairing powered to a 79-minute win that was twice interrupted by passing rain showers.
The 22-time main champion Nadal and the world No 8 ranked Ruud will tackle Mariano Navone and Britain’s Cameron Norrie or Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin within the second spherical.
Nadal made a profitable return to tennis, having final performed on Could 27 in Roland Garros defeat to Alexander Zverev
“Like Rafa mentioned, I believe it was a very good match. In the case of the rain delays, I am used to it greater than Rafa, being from Norway and he’s from Spain,” mentioned Ruud.
The Norwegian light-heartedly added: “He’s getting previous so I am unsure how his physique feels when he has to cease and begin on a regular basis, however he did nicely. We performed good doubles and it was plenty of enjoyable to share the court docket with Rafa as at all times.”
Britain’s Norrie by to singles second spherical with victory
Britain’s Cam Norrie is thru to the second spherical of the singles on the Swedish Open, having defeated Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 on Monday.
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Cameron Norrie beat Jozef Kovalik in straight units to succeed in the second spherical of the Swedish Open
The fifth seed strikes by to the following spherical in Bastad, and can face the winner of Nadal or Borg in that conflict.
Norrie has endured a disappointing 2024 up to now, falling to fourth spherical (Australian Open), first spherical (French Open) and third spherical (Wimbledon) exits on the Grand Slams, whereas additionally failing to get previous the third spherical of any ATP Masters 1000 occasion.
The 28-year-old additionally misplaced his place as British No 1 to Jack Draper. He’s looking for a fourth ATP 250 collection title of his profession up to now, although his most up-to-date title got here in February 2023.
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