Rafael Nadal made a comeback to the clay courts in Bastad, Sweden, after 19 years, partnering with Casper Ruud to secure a victory in the first round of doubles at the Nordea Open. The last time Nadal played in Bastad was in 2005 when he won the singles title at just 19 years old. His return to the Swedish tournament is part of his preparation for the upcoming Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.

Nadal and Ruud clinched a win against second-seeded Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela with a score of 6-1, 6-4, in front of an enthusiastic crowd. This match marked Nadal’s first tour appearance since his defeat in the first round of the French Open to Alexander Zverev in May. The 38-year-old tennis icon opted out of Wimbledon to avoid the risk of injury by switching surfaces from clay to grass and back to clay, as he has been managing hip and abdominal injuries over the last 1 1/2 years.

Looking ahead, Nadal is scheduled to face Leo Borg, the son of Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg, in the first round of the Bastad singles tournament on Tuesday. This match will be another intriguing chapter in Nadal’s return to competitive play on clay after a significant absence.