Rafa Nadal said it was a challenge to hold himself back on his return to the ATP Tour after three months on the sidelines but the fiercely-competitive Spaniard expects to continue with the controlled approach in Barcelona.

Nadal had made a comeback to the tour in January at Brisbane after almost a year out with a hip injury that needed surgery but a muscle tear forced him to skip the Australian Open as well as tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.