Rafael Nadal Begins His Return To The Tour

Written by: Staff on 21st November 2012

Rafael Nadal Begins His Return To The Tour

epa03479237 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal during his first training session in Manacor, Balearic Islands, Spain, 20 November 2012, after spending several months off the tennis courts due to a injury. EPA/ISAAC BUJ |

Rafael Nadal has finally gone back to the practice courts at home in Mallorca, with his PR team tweeting the news as well as posting a picture of the 11-time Grand Slam winner at work with a racquet firmly in his hand.

The 26-year-old, his ranking now down to fourth behind Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, has not played a match in almost five months due to serious knee injury complications.

He was last on court on June 28 when he lost in the Wimbledon second round to Czech Lukas Rosol. Since then, the former No. 1 has had to watch on television as the Olympics, US Open and the World Tour Finals and last weekend’s Davis Cup final, which Spain lost 3-2 to the Czech Republic in Prague, all took place without him.

Doubts persist over exactly when Nadal will get back to competition, with possibilities running the spectrum from the Abu Dhabi post-Christmas exhibition with Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer also playing to possible appearances on the ATP in New Zealand as well as the pre-Australian Open AAMI Classic in Melbourne.

Nadal, winner of 11 Grand Slams, was diagnosed with a partial tear of the patella tendon and an inflammation of a fat pad in the knee.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

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