New Delhi: Rafael Nadal spent the past year living a quieter life after stepping away from the routine that defined him for over two decades. No packed stadiums, no lung-busting rallies, no trophy lifts. Just time with family, recovery and a chance to breathe after a career that asked everything of him. But this week in Mallorca, the 22-major champion slipped back into the rhythm he knows best, returning to the court at his own Academy for a gentle hit.

It wasn’t a full-throttle comeback session as he picked up his trusted Babolat racket and eased into the movements that once carried him to the top of the sport. The moment felt more emotional than dramatic and it helped that he shared the court with a familiar face, Alexandra Eala who is one of the brightest young talents to come through

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