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Nadal targets return with Barcelona…

Rafael Nadal (ESP) during his first round match at the Monaco Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo on April 14, 2021. Photo by Corinne Dubreuil/ABACAPRESS.COM

Rafael Nadal hopes to be able to make his return from injury at next week’s Barcelona Open, the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

“First training… with the hope of being here these days before the start of the tournament. I’m here to see how it goes… with the desire to try to play,” wrote Nadal on social media, alongside a picture of the Spaniard sitting courtside with his rackets.

But he did go on to add: “Important to say that I don’t want to confirm that I will play, hopefully I will.”

Last Thursday, 37-year-old Nadal was forced to withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters after not recovering in time from injury to play the clay court season opener.

The record 14-time French Open winner missed virtually all of the 2023 season through injury and has only played at the Brisbane International this season, where he felt a hip injury flare-up during his quarter-final defeat by Jordan Thompson.

That prompted his withdrawal from the Australian Open as well as Doha and Indian Wells, where he had first intended to make his comeback.

His one appearance since Brisbane came in an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas in March where observers noted some discomfort in his back.