2024 Barcelona Open TUESDAY SCHEDULE and PREVIEW including the return of Spanish king Rafael NADAL

Tuesday sees a big return to the sport after four months of his comeback falling by the wayside with aborted returns, Rafael Nadal headlines the schedule for Tuesday at the Barcelona Open on the court that bears his name.

Our preview looks ahead to Tuesday at the Barcelona Open with the leading talking points as well as the main matches to watch from the three courts in the Spanish city.

There is a reason that Rafael Nadal has literal legend status on the grounds of Barcelona Open and has a court named after him aside from the fact he is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He won the title a record 12 times and is aiming for 13 this week. Stefanos Tsitsipas who is also in the field believes he could reach the final despite not playing since January competitively. Nadal will have lesser expectations.

The fact that he only decided to play on Monday says a lot with some waiting for the likely withdrawal alongside Carlos Alcaraz. Some still will with it very much being a won't be set until he steps on court moment. Nadal has said throughout that he won't play until he's ready. But the fact that it likely is his final Conde de Godo as it is called likely calls for a more special effort to be ready. Also with Madrid on the horizon, Nadal will likely test himself out at this juncture instead of pushing himself to his limits. He faces Flavio Cobolli in the opening round, a rising Italian who will aim to hand Nadal his final Barcelona defeat.

While all eyes will be on Rafael Nadal, it isn't the only match on Tuesday's line-up with second seed Andrey Rublev desperate for form and wins. Since his Dubai meltdown, he has openly struggled mentally and he has not been winning. Last week's Monte-Carlo Masters title defence was a let down and he faces the American, Brandon Nakashima who will aim to take advantage. One to watch certainly.

Out on other courts, Borna Coric as well as Sebastian Baez and Cameron Norrie are also among the leading attractions. While other top stars including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alex de Minaur and Casper Ruud are being saved until Wednesday, there is still plenty to follow on Tuesday in Barcelona.

(LL) Hugo Grenier (FRA) v Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)

Jaume Munar (ESP) v Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)

Brandon Nakashima (USA) v (2) Andrey Rublev

Flavio Cobolli (ITA) v (PR) Rafael Nadal (ESP)

(Q) Diego Schwartzman (ARG) v Dusan Lajovic (SRB)

Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG) v (15) Borna Coric (CRO)

(8) Sebastian Baez (ARG) v Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)

(Q) Harold Mayot v (12) Cameron Norrie (GBR)

Luca Van Assche (FRA) v Zhizhen Zhang (CHN)

Tomas Machac v (Q) Juncheng Shang (CHN)

Daniel Altmaier (GER) v Alexei Popyrin (AUS)

(13) Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) v (Q) Nick Hardt (DOM)