BASTAD, July 16, 2024

After 19 years, Rafael Nadal is back in Bastad and opened his campaign at the Swedish seaside resort with a win the doubles competition. On Monday afternoon at the Nordea Open, the Spaniard teamed up with Norwegian Casper Ruud to secure a 6-1, 6-4 victory against second seeds Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Mexican Miguel Reyes-Varela.

Competing at the ATP Tour 250 event for the first time since he won the singles title as a 19-year-old in 2005, Nadal quickly found his footing on the Swedish clay.

Rafa has returned to Båstad💙 pic.twitter.com/wdsN5zv2Q3

— Nordea Open (@NordeaOpen) July 10, 2024

“It’s a pleasure playing with a good friend and an amazing player like Casper here in Bastad,” said Nadal in the pair’s on-court interview. “Personally, I am happy and I think it was a good match. We played quite well in the first time we played together and I’m happy to be back here after almost 20 years.

“I have great memories from this place from 2003, 2004 and 2005, so I am enjoying this week and hopefully can keep going.”

On Tuesday, Nadal won his first-round singles match against home favourite Leo Borg, son of tennis legend Bjorn Borg, 6-3, 6-4. The 38-year-old from Mallorca sent down five aces and won 82 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 25 minutes.

Up next for Nadal will be No. 5 seed Cameron Norrie from Great Britain.