Rafael Nadal wins first match since May 9, in Bastad doubles with Casper Ruud

Rafael Nadal hadn't played a tour-level match since the first round of Roland Garros, against eventual finalist Alexander Zverev, on May 27.

His last win? You have to go back to May 9, in Rome, against Zizou Bergs (4-6, 6-3, 6-4).

More than two months later, the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion finally tasted victory—in doubles, with ninth-ranked singles player Capser Ruud, at the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden.

The scoreline was an undramatic 6-1, 6-4, over Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela and Guido Andreozzi (the second seeds in the ATP 250 tournament), though Nadal needed to wait even longer for the win after some pesky rain delays.

"When it comes to the rain delays, I'm used to it more than Rafa, I think, being from Norway, and he's from Spain," said Ruud with a smile. "He's getting old, so I'm not sure how his body feels when he has to stop and start all the time."

But it was Nadal who served it out, continuing his country's exceptional run in international sport. Not that a doubles victory measures up to La Roja winning soccer's European Championships or Carlos Alcaraz winning Wimbledon—but it was Rafa's first doubles victory since a 2022 Australian Open tune-up tournament in Melbourne, and his first win in the seaside Swedish town since he last played Bastad in 2005.

"We are very proud, all the country, about what they did," said Nadal. "Was an amazing day for the Spanish sport, and I think the sport generates passion and motivation to people, and that's good for the country without a doubt."

Nadal and Ruud broke serve four times overall, were broken just once, and won 27 of the 41 points played in the first set. From there, experience prevailed.

"Good match, no? We played quite well to be the first time that we played together," said Nadal. "Happy to be back here after almost 20 years."

Nadal, who will face Leo Borg in his return to the singles court on Tuesday, also played two events in Bastad 19 years ago, winning the soloist's trophy and reaching the semifinals in doubles (with Juan Monaco).