It is not often that Rafael Nadal takes a beatdown on clay and declares himself delighted with the whole experience. But then Nadal was hardly in a typical situation in Barcelona this week, having returned to the red-brick courts after 681 days away.
Rafael Nadal said the upcoming French Open will be the moment to "give everything and die" on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur on Wednesday."It wasn't today that I had to give everything and die, I have to give myself the chance to do that in a few weeks, or at least try to," Nadal told reporters.
Rafael Nadal suffered his first defeat on his return to tennis after injury as he fell 7-5, 6-1 against Alex de Minaur on Wednesday in the Barcelona Open second round.De Minaur broke to love to take a 6-5 lead as Nadal went wide and sealed the first set when the Spaniard pushed a shot into the net, winning the final 10 points as Nadal started to struggle.