Nadal races to doubles win alongside Ruud in Bastad return

After 19 years, Rafael Nadal is back to winning ways in Bastad.

The Spaniard teamed with Casper Ruud to notch a 6-1, 6-4 against second seeds Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela on Monday afternoon at the Nordea Open. Competing at the ATP 250 for the first time since he lifted the singles title as a 19-year-old in 2005, Nadal immediately looked at home on the Swedish clay.

“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.”

Rafa ™️ 💪@RafaelNadal and @CasperRuud98 race 6-1 up on Andreozzi/Reyes-Varela@NordeaOpen | #NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/c4WWMIS4VJ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 15, 2024

With both the Spaniard and Ruud striking their groundstrokes powerfully throughout, the wild card pairing powered to a 79-minute win that was twice interrupted by passing rain showers. It converted four of 10 break points it earned in the process, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 22-time major champion Nadal and the No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings Ruud will take on Mariano Navone and Cameron Norrie or Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin in the second round.

“Like Rafa said, I think it was a good match. When it comes to the rain delays, I’m used to it more than Rafa, being from Norway and he is from Spain,” said Ruud, before light-heartedly adding: “He is getting old so I’m not sure how his body feels when he has to stop and start all the time, but he did well. We played good doubles and it was a lot of fun to share the court with Rafa as always.”

Monday’s victory was Nadal’s first competitive match since he fell to Alexander Zverev on 27 May in the opening round at Roland Garros. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will take on Leo Borg, son of ATP legend Bjorn Borg, in his opening singles match

In singles action, former World No. 8 Cameron Norrie got on court much later than expected following the rain delays but made a successful transition from grass to clay with a 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Slovakian World No. 102 Jozef Kovalik. Norrie will play the winner of Nadal and Leo Borg in the second round.

"I was a bit nervous at the beginning, having not played a bunch on clay coming straight from Wimbledon,” Norrie said after collecting his 17th match win on the season. “It was not easy but I thought I managed my serve really well and competed really well. I served unbelievable in the tie-break and that helped to get me through.

"It's a beautiful place here in Bastad, it's my first time here. I went for a walk before my match today and jumped in the water yesterday and tried to avoid some jellyfish. It's a very chill and a very cool place to come and visit. I feel pretty relaxed."

In the only other main-draw singles match played Monday, eighth seed Pavel Kotov ousted Chilean Cristian Garin 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 after saving four of the five break points he faced.