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Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati - previously he had last played a match in early July
Photo: Scott Stuart / dpa
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal suffered a surprising defeat on his comeback after suffering an abdominal muscle injury.
The 36-year-old Spaniard lost on Wednesday (local time) at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Mason near Cincinnati in the second round to Croatian Borna Ćorić 6: 7 (9:11), 6: 4, 3: 6.
The 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner had not played a match since the beginning of July, when he was injured and had to do without his Wimbledon semifinals against Australian Nick Kyrgios.
With that, Nadal didn't make a good impression before the start of the US Open, which starts on August 29 in New York.
However, the Spaniard at least had no physical problems when he served.
The movement in his own service had caused him a lot of pain at the lawn classic in London.
Nadal wants to take it "step by step".
"I have to get into Grand Slam mode," said Nadal, looking at the US Open.
»I need training, I have to return better.
I still need days.« He was not ready enough to win the game.
In the first round of the hard court tournament, he had had a bye as the number two seeded player.
“The most important thing is to stay healthy.
It's a difficult injury.
I have to take it step by step,” Nadal said.
He had already won the Australian Open and French Open before retiring from the Wimbledon semi-finals this year.
see/dpa