Barcelona erupts as Rafael Nadal returns! The stands were electric with roaring fans as the ‘King of Clay’ made a triumphant comeback at the Barcelona Open 2024. Even his sister sent well wishes as Nadal dominated his first-round match against Flavio Cobolli. Get ready for a thrilling tournament as Rafa battles it out on his home turf!

Rafael Nadal‘s sister Maria Isabel Nadal recently attended the Barcelona Open tournament to witness her brother’s performance. She shared a clip on her official Instagram profile’s story, where fans witnessed Rafael Nadal receiving a grand welcome from the stadium as he walked towards the tennis court.

“It was a bit emotional,” a Barcelona resident and Nadal fan, who asked to be identified only as Juan E., told ATPTour.com after watching the Spaniard’s triumph against Italy’s Cobolli. “He seemed very happy because the stadium was full, sold out. You could tell that everybody was present [because of the noise],” the fan added.

“The crowd was great,” said Nadal in his post-match press conference. “A full crowd since the beginning. Even before the match started, the court was full, so that means a lot to me to be able to walk on court today and feel that warmth and that support. In a very special place for me, it’s so helpful and means a lot to me to receive that support and that love.”

Nadal’s return was truly long-awaited for his fans since he couldn’t perform after the Brisbane International this year. He sustained a muscle team that made him retrieve his name from tournaments like the Australian Open, the Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Rafael Nadal not only impressed his fans with his return but managed to pull off his second tournament in fifteen months with a victory.

While fans were satisfied just seeing him back on the court, Nadal defeated his twenty-one-year-old opponent, Flavio Cobolli, impressively. Although Nadal suffered with some loose backhand strokes, he ultimately proved to be stronger than Cobolli. The Spaniard legend took over the Italian by 6-2 and 6-3 showing that he is still a strong contender for the clay court titles.

This Spanish tennis maestro seemed really delighted to bag this victory as he said– “I enjoyed an unforgettable moment, I’m just having fun and I’m happy to start with a victory, without a doubt. I am going through tough moments but, at the same time, when I am able to be on the Tour for a few days and be able to practice with the guys, to be able to compete a little bit, it means a lot to me.” 

Nadal’s joy doubled with the support from his fans. Not just Nadal, his sister felt equally charmed seeing so much enthusiasm in Nadal’s fans. Along with that, the fraternity also understood Maria Isabel Nadal’s overwhelming support for her brother’s return.

Rafael Nadal’s sister commented “Vamossss” on the Spaniard’s news of returning to professional tennis

Nadal’s sister has always been the Spaniard tennis legend’s biggest cheerleader. It was seen when Nadal dropped his official statement about returning to professional tours with the Brisbane International this season. Nadal wrote- “Hello everyone. After a year away from competition, it’s time to come back. It will be in Brisbane the first week of January. I’ll see you there.”

Now, Nadal’s Instagram post received delightful support from his sister Maria Isabel Nadal, who commented “Vamossss!!” This adorable interaction showcased the strong bond between these siblings.

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Maria Isabel Nadal’s Instagram story is a testament to fans’ overwhelming love for Rafael Nadal. It also represents the support Nadal receives from his family, which works as another fueling factor for his indomitable spirit.