Returning to his favorite court the day after his first training at Roland-Garros, Rafael Nadal won a practice set against Sebastian Korda on the Central at midday on Tuesday, five days before the start of the 2024 edition .
Entering the Philippe-Chatrier court at midday, once again under the eyes of thousands of spectators installed in the lower stands, Nadal made up a break behind (2-3) and won the first set 6-3, by committing serving and adding a certain intensity to his groundstrokes. In the second set, he only had time to lead 5-3 before having to clear the court. As a reminder, Korda (28th in the world) has only won three matches in four tournaments played on ocher in 2024.
Almost 38 years old, Nadal is attempting a final comeback but the form of the Spanish champion with 22 Grand Slam titles, including fourteen at Roland-Garros, remains uncertain. The day before, during a first training session, “Rafa” had returned to Parisian clay for the first time since his last coronation in 2022, when he had gone through the fortnight in incredible conditions, his left foot anesthetized to contain the pain caused by the chronic illness from which he has suffered since the age of 18 (Müller-Weiss syndrome).
