Rafael Nadal, number 265 in the world at 38 years old, will have a very special rival on his return to competition next week at the Open 250 in Bastada tournament in which he entered his name in 2005.
His first adversary will be Leo Borg, son of the legendary Björn Borgaccording to the draw of the table. It is curious that this confrontation took place considering that the two are guests of the organization and that this week they had trained together.
“My father passed balls and was defensive, we are not alike in the game. I am aware that I am compared to my father, but I am not worried about what is said and I live quite on the sidelines. I think about my future and my own objectives,” reflects the young man in an interview with MARCA.
Leo is 467th in the ATP ranking and knows Nadal personally, Not in vain has he spent the season at his Manacor academy.
Bj�rn has shared a dressing room with Nadal in three editions of the Laver Cup, where he serves as European captain, in addition to presenting him with the trophy as Roland Garros champion in the 2014 and 2021 editions.
The 21-year-old son of the Swedish legend has not won a single match on the circuit. He will seek his first triumph against a legend like his father.
Nadal has not played an official match since the Last May 27, he lost his Roland Garros debut with the German Alexander Zverev. He later ruled out participating in Wimbledon to prepare in the best conditions for the tennis event at the Paris Games (July 27 to August 4).
Kind giveaway
If he surpasses his debut, Nadal would have Cameron Norrie, fifth seed in the draw, in the round of 16. On his side is the Argentine Mariano Navone, in a hypothetical quarterfinal, and the semifinals would be against the Norwegian Casper Ruud. Andrey Rublev would wait in the final.