Rafael Nadal is making headlines with his return to competitive tennis, having been named on the 2024 US Open entry list via a protected ranking despite recent injuries and a current ranking of No. 261. This does not guarantee his participation but raises expectations for a Grand Slam return. Nadal has shown promising form at the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden, where he won both singles and doubles matches. He is also gearing up for the Paris Olympics. The protected ranking system allows injured players to enter tournaments based on their average ranking before the injury.