Tennis-Nadal happy to make winning return at Barcelona after injury layoff

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 16, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during his quarter-final match against Russia's Andrey Rublev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal said he was delighted to make a winning return at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday and that it meant a lot to him after going through a tough period due to injuries, as he advanced to the second round with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Flavio Cobolli.

The 37-year-old Spaniard beat the 62nd-ranked Italian in his first tournament since January and first appearance on clay since the 2022 French Open.