Rafael Nadal Agrees to Play Halle for Three Years

Written by: Staff on 19th November 2011

Rafael Nadal Agrees to Play Halle for Three Years

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to his compatriot David Ferrer during their final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, 17 April 2011. Nadal won 6-4 and 7-5. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

With the beleaguered German tennis federation facing the current lack of world-class male players and a possible $20 million legal bill from the ATP over an unsuccessful suit to stop the demise of the Hamburg Masters in 2007, there is a spark of good news for the nation.

Rafael Nadal has officially severed his link with the rival Queen’s club event in London and has signed a three-year contract to play in the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.

The federation trumpeted the news on its Facebook page with the smiling world No. 2 holding a pair of publicity posters for the 2012 edition in which he could well face Roger Federer, a longtime participant in the grass tune-up in early June.

The contract signing was announced only hours before the start of the season-ending World Tour Finals in London. “I’m very happy that I finally returned to Germany and cab play before my German fans, “said a statement from the Spaniard.

The Nadal camp made a financial judgment in light of the harsh tax regime in Britain which now charges individual sportsmen for a percentage of their worldwide income based on the number of days they play in the country.

With Wimbledon obligatory for the major names, cut have to be made elsewhere by the well-paid pros.

Halle tournament director Ralf Weber was proud of the work in nailing down the Nadal deal. “The fact that Rafael will play at our event until 2014 is a great honor for our tournament.”

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

Topics: Halle tennis tournament, Rafael Nadal