Nadal faces race to reach Olympics

Rafael Nadal faces a battle to qualify for the Rio Olympics after the International Tennis Federation announced the entry list Thursday for the 2016 Games.

The ITF published the list of players whose place in the Rio draw is assured -- though a question mark hangs over the name of 2008 Beijing champion Nadal.

The injured world number four planned to return to action at Toronto on July 25, but his place rests on him making himself available for Spain away to Romania in the Davis Cup on July 15 or a last-ditch appeal.

The 30-year-old is sitting out Wimbledon after failing to recover from the wrist injury which forced his early withdrawal from the French Open last month.

Nadal is keen to play in Rio after being unable to defend his gold medal at the London 2012 Games due to a knee injury.

The ITF Olympic Committee said it would discuss any outstanding men's appeals on July 15 regarding any player who still had the chance to compete in the July 15-17 Davis Cup ties.

Reigning champions Andy Murray and Serena Williams will defend their Olympic titles on the Rio hard courts, the ITF confirmed.

Top stars including world number one Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic have their places booked in the men's draw.

In the women's competition, Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Agnieszka Radwanska, Garbine Muguruza, Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams have their spots confirmed.