The fans are finding it hard to hold their excitement as the legendary player Rafael Nadal is set to be back once again. After almost 680 days of keeping himself away from the clay courts, the Spaniard recently confirmed his participation. Now that the stage is set, he commences his run for the Barcelona Open against Flavio Cobolli. While it might seem like an easy win for the King of Clay, history suggests a dissimilar opinion.

After an unexpected withdrawal from the Monte Carlo Masters because of a back injury, Rafael Nadal will pick up his massive legacy on the clay courts. However, his comeback match against Italian tennis star Flavio Cobolli is highly expected to be a gripping showdown, as history marks three moments when the Italian stunned the ‘King of Clay’.

Turning the pages of memorable moments when the 21-year-old built recognition by defeating Nadal, the bookmark points to 2015 and 2019. Their last clash in 2019 saw Cobolli stunning Nadal in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals, in which the young Italian served him with a straight-sets defeat.

Likewise, the Italian’s massive victory in Barcelona 2015, where he eliminated Nadal in the round of 16 with a 6-4, 7-6 scoreline, is the closest resemblance to the upcoming competition. Moreover, Cobolli enjoyed immense luck as he gained another victory in the same year in a three-setter match played in Rio De Janeiro.

However, despite the moments when Cobolli managed to surpass Rafa’s dominance, the Spaniard remains a formidable opponent, as he bags six wins over him on outdoor clay courts. Nonetheless, Nadal’s recent recovery from a back injury underlines an element of uncertainty in the upcoming match. It remains to be seen whether Nadal can prove that he has finally recovered or if Cobolli will add one more victory against the Spaniard.

Rafael Nadal views the comeback opportunity as a gift

Besides the line of competition, Rafael Nadal appeared to be excited about his comeback in Barcelona. The place holds timeless memories as the Spaniard secured 12 titles in the same event, adding another reason for nostalgia to gather around his mind.

Mentioning his excitement about the participation, Nadal said, “More than lamenting where I wasn’t able to be, I prefer to be happy that I am here.” Cherishing the opportunity to step back on the courts of Barcelona, he added, “On a personal level, it is a gift for me to be in Barcelona. I’m taking this as my last year and I want to enjoy every moment.”

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As the ‘King of Clay’ stands just hours before his highly anticipated showdown, it will be intriguing if the crowd will get a reason to cheer at the top of their lungs.