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Rafael Nadals 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 yesterday.

Nadal, back from an injury layoff, looked like his old self for brief moments in the second-round match but couldnt keep up with the 11th-ranked De Minaur.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion had comfortably defeated 62nd-ranked Flavio Cobolli in straight sets in the first round on Tuesday in what was his first competitive match in more than three months.

Nadal again looked injury-free yesterday but was never in control against the in-form De Minaur, who picked up his second career win over Nadal.

It was only his fifth defeat at the Barcelona Open, a tournament he has won a record 12 times.

Nadal is returning from yet another injury layoff and hadnt played since an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in March. Before this week, he had played only three competitive matches this year ” all in Brisbane in January ” before skipping the Australian Open.

Nadal also withdrew from Monte Carlo, saying he his body wasnt ready. Nadal is a 14-time winner at the French Open, which begins next month.

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