World No. 4 Rafael Nadal will be back in action at the Madrid Open. The Spaniard has confirmed he will play the ATP 1000 event as he returns from a rib injury. Nadal has not played since losing to Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final on March 20. Nadal had won 20 matches in a row to start the season before losing to Fritz.
Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will make his return to action at the Madrid Open, which starts on May 1.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion has not played since losing in the Indian Wells final to Taylor Fritz.
Nadal suffered breathing issues during the match and revealed afterwards that he has a stress fracture in one of his ribs.
He is a five-time champion in Madrid, where world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev are also set to play.
The event is the second clay ATP Masters 1000 of the season after Monte Carlo, which was won by Tsitsipas.
Nadal, 35, wrote on Twitter: “Despite only just arriving with preparation and it being difficult, I really want to play and play at home since the opportunities are few.
“I will try to do it in the best possible way. See you in Madrid.”
Nadal won 20 matches in a row before losing to Fritz, clinching three titles, including the Australian Open.
He will be hoping to get back into form as he builds to the French Open, which he will be aiming to win for a record-extending 14th time.
Roger Federer has also revealed that he will play later this year at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
The 40-year-old has not played since Wimbledon last summer after undergoing a third knee surgery.
Nadal moved one clear of Federer and Djokovic in the all-time Grand Slam standings with his victory at the Australian Open.
