After defeating Cobolli, Nadal — a 22-time Grand Slam champion, a 12-time winner in Barcelona and the greatest ever clay-court player — lamented the difficulty of solving the riddle that lies before him. Reaching his full potential means putting maximum stress on his biggest weakness, his body, so that, maybe, he can maximize everything else.

Rafael Nadal has lost at the Barcelona Open. The tourment marked Nadal’s return to professional tennis since he experienced an injury in January, which has left him unable to play in the professional tournaments that have occurred over the past months.

Rafael Nadal’s comeback effort ended on Wednesday with a second-round loss to the No 4 seed Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open

This week was a big one for the tennis world as fans everywhere looked forward to the return of Rafael Nadal to his most comfortable home. Nadal was cleared to participate in the Barcelona Open this week,

Rafael Nadal's latest injury comeback - in what could be his final season before retirement - ends with a second-round defeat at the Barcelona Open.

Rafael Nadal lost to Alex de Minaur in the second match of his tennis comeback in Barcelona on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Australian, ranked No 11 in the world, won 7-5, 6-1, for his first victory over the 22-time Grand Slam champion on the ATP tour.

Rafael Nadal returned to the tennis court Tuesday in blistering fashion, beating Italian Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, 6-2 6-3, in the first round of the Barcelona Open.

Rafael Nadal's first tournament since January lasted only two matches, with the Spaniard losing 7-5, 6-1 to Alex de Minaur at the clay-court Barcelona Open on Wednesday.

Rafael Nadal’s Barcelona Open hopes ended by Alex de Minaur - The 37-year-old was playing just his second tournament in 15 months.

King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal falls to straight-sets defeat by world No 11 Alex de Minaur at Barcelona Open, which is one of Spaniard’s happiest hunting grounds