Nadal Returns To The Practice Courts In Spain

At home in Mallorca, Rafael Nadal’s preparations for the upcoming European clay court swing are already in progress.

The World No. 2, who was forced to withdraw from a semi-final showdown against Roger Federer at the BNP Paribas Open due to pain in his right knee, resumed training last week by taking to the practice courts of the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar.

The 32-year-old is targeting a mid-April return to the ATP Tour, just in time to defend his Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title. An 11-time champion at the ATP Masters 1000 event, Nadal holds an Open-Era record of eight successive titles in Monaco between 2005-2012. It will mark the first time Nadal has competed on clay since June 2018, when he defeated Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to lift his 11th Roland Garros title.

Nadal looks set to enter a crucial stretch of the calendar with fitness and form. In addition to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the Spaniard is also scheduled to compete at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the Mutua Madrid Open, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and Roland Garros. From April through June, Nadal will be defending 4,680 ATP Ranking points after triumphing in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Paris last year.