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Organisers of the Monte Carlo Masters have indicated that Rafael Nadal is confirmed to return to the first clay court ATP 1000 event of the season.
Nadal missed out on the Sunshine double with an injury sustained during the Australian Open swing.
He has been seen practising on clay courts at his Academy in Mallorca, which suggested that he would make some return in advance of the French Open.
Nadal’s inaction over the year to date saw him drop out of the top ten of the ATP Rankings after Indians Wells, marking the first time in close to 18 years that he has been outside of the elite.
Now the world No 13, Nadal has seemingly confirmed his entry to the Monte Carlo Masters with the event declaring his presence in a Tweet from their official handle this week.
Nadal has won the Monte Carlo Masters a record 11 times and can make it 12 when he arrives at the event for the first time since 2021.
The tournament hadn’t been expected to confirm Nadal’s participation this far out from the tournament having previously told potential ticket buyers that he would only take part if he had fully recovered from injury.
It would seem that preparations have gone well for the Spaniard with the confirmation coming with more than two weeks still to go before the opening round in the Principality.
“We’re eager to welcome the legend @RafaelNadal,” the tournament Tweeted on Thursday.
“He is definitely able to win his 12th trophy in #montecarlo despite his last injury.
“He is definitely able to win his 12th trophy in #montecarlo despite his last injury.”
Tournament director David Massey suggested that Nadal was dead keen on being involved in the tournament and would make every reasonable effort to take part.
“Rafa was the first registered player,” Massey said in a statement.
“He really wants to play in the Monte Carlo Masters and is giving himself every opportunity to participate in the tournament that he likes so much.”
Nadal has achieved great success at the Masters level despite limited participation in the events in recent seasons.
Injury prevented him from taking part in the 2022 edition of the Monte Carlo Masters which saw Stefanos Tsitsipas defend the crown he won the year prior.
Nadal sports an incredible 73 match wins in 79 matches at the Monte Carlo Country Club, his best winning percentage at any big tournament barring the French Open.
Source:Tennis 365