After Monte-Carlo Masters, Rafael Nadal adds second French Open tune-up event to his schedule

Rafael Nadal is all set to make a return to court with ATP set to shift focus on the build-up to the second Grand Slam event of the year – French Open 2023. Nadal has already signed up for the Monte-Carlo Masters, which will kick off early next month, but the Spaniard has now added a second tournament on his schedule as he looks to gear up to defend his crown at Roland Garros.

Nadal has been absent from tennis since aggravating his injury in the second round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open last January. The 22-time Grand Slam winner had subsequently missed the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open due to grade 2 injury in the iliopsoas muscle in his left leg. But having recovered from the injury, Nadal has already begun practising for his return with Monte-Carlo Masters being the first event he is slated to play.

“Rafa was the first player to sign up. He wants to play in Monaco and is giving himself every chance to be able to participate in this tournament that he loves so much, and which he has won eleven times in singles, including a record eight consecutive titles between 2005 and 2012,” tournament Director David Massey had said in a statement.

Nadal is a 11-time winner in Monaco, although his last trophy came in 2018.

The field in Monaco will also include Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, incumbent world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Dane Casper Ruud, the American Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, Felix Auger-Aliassime. The main draw of the 116th edition of the tournament will be organised on April 7

The 36-year-old will then return home for the Barcelona Open where he has lifted the title 12 times and will be aiming for a record-extending 13.

The Barcelona Open will be celebrating 70th anniversary with one of the best lineups comprising Nadal, incumbent world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner. Barcelona Open will begin from April 15 onwards.