A hero’s welcome for Nadal, and a heart-to-heart with Halep – Madrid Open diary

“Rafael Nadal received a hero’s welcome ahead of his return to tennis action after a rib injury. The 21-time Grand Slam champion has a stunning 20-1 win-loss record heading into his Madrid opener. Elsewhere, Simona Halep was in reflective mood and Paula Badosa’s desire for improvement is illustrative of a champion’s mentality. Reem Abulleil is back with her latest diary.”