The Circus Nadal is in town in Båstad – 19 years after the last visit.
The Spanish gravel king remembers the parties in the tennis metropolis as a teenager, but with his wife and child on site, it won't be that kind of party this year.
When you're 38 years old, life has changed a bit, says Rafael Nadal.
Already when Rafael Nadal entered the doubles tournament with Norwegian Casper Ruud on Monday, it was sold out on Båstad's centre court. Many who had bought tickets to the area didn't get a spot on the stands.
On a Monday, in the first round, and in doubles too. I've never experienced that during my 25 years here, says tournament director Christer Hult, shaking his head.
When it became clear in mid-June that the Spanish gravel king would play the Swedish ATP tournament, ticket sales went through the roof.
We sold 8,000 tickets in two hours. It was fantastic. After a couple of days, we were sold out all the way. I've never experienced that before, not even during my ten years with Stockholm Open. He's a phenomenon.
"It became a world news story"
Hult has known Nadal and his team for over 20 years. A young Nadal played in Båstad for the first time in 2003, and in his third start, the then 19-year-old Nadal won the tournament in 2005. It was the year he became a world star, and since then, the Spaniard hasn't played in Sweden.
Until now. When Christer Hult heard that Nadal would skip the grass season with an eye on the Olympics – which will be held on the Roland Garros clay in Paris – the Swede acted and managed to lure Nadal back to Bjärehalvön again.
It became a world news story, not because he would play Båstad, but because he wouldn't play Wimbledon, says Hult.
Nadal and his team of around ten people arrived in Båstad already last Wednesday to train. Even his wife and 21-month-old son are in Sweden, which makes the visit somewhat different compared to his first three years in Båstad.
"No parties yet"
It's a very beautiful town. I'm enjoying myself and going out for dinner in the evenings. No parties yet. My family is here, so I'm not allowed. But I remember that I was at some fantastic parties the last time I was here, he says, laughing.
With 22 Grand Slam titles and a total of 92 ATP titles, Nadal – who knocked out Leo Borg in the first singles round on Tuesday – is a legend. That doesn't mean he shows any diva behavior.
"Rafa" is a world star, but what I'm fascinated by is that he makes himself so available to young people and children all the time. He takes selfies and signs autographs all the time. He's as easy-going as can be to deal with, but then it's clear that we make sure everything is in place for him, says Christer Hult.
His only wish before this year's edition? A couple of baby car seats.
Corrected: In an earlier version of this text, it was incorrectly stated that Nadal received a wildcard to the tournament in 2003. The correct information is that he qualified for the tournament through his ranking.
The ATP tournament in Båstad takes place Monday to Sunday.
World number one Jannik Sinner was clear for the tournament in the spring, but has withdrawn on the advice of doctors. The 22-year-old Italian feels tired. The news came after the quarterfinal exit in the Grand Slam tournament Wimbledon last week.
Legend Rafael Nadal is the big poster name, but after a few injury-plagued years, Nadal has dropped to around 260th place in the world rankings. The Spaniard received a wildcard to the tournament and meets Swedish player Leo Borg, who also received a wildcard, in the first round on Tuesday.
Highest ranked player is Russian Andrej Rubljov (eight) and Norwegian Casper Ruud (nine). The two met in last year's final, and then Rubljov won. Ruud won the tournament in 2021.
Born: June 3, 1986.
Turned pro: 2001.
Grand Slam record: 14 titles in the French Open (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022), 4 titles in the US Open (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019), 2 titles in Wimbledon (2008, 2010), 2 titles in the Australian Open (2009, 2010).
ATP titles total: 92, of which 63 on clay.
Olympic record: Gold in singles 2008, gold in doubles with Marc López 2016. Also participated in singles 2016, but lost the bronze match.
Current: Playing the ATP tournament in Båstad for the first time since winning the tournament in 2005.
