Nadal to return to action in Davis Cup tie against Germany
Spain captain Sergi Bruguera has confirmed the world number two will make his return to the courts alongside Roberto Bautista, Pablo Carreño, Feliciano López and David Ferrer.
Spain captain Sergi Bruguera has announced his team to play Germany in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup and confirmed that Rafa Nadal will make his return to competitive action by representing his country for the first time in a year and a half.
The world number two has been on the sidelines since the Australian Open with injury and pulled out of clay tournaments in Mexico and Acapulco as well as Indian Wells and the ongoing Miami Masters. Nada last played in a Davis Cup tie in 2016, when he helped to return Spain to the top-tier of the competition, the World Group, playing in the doubles rubber alongside occasional Tour partner Marc López.
Bruguera wary of Zverez, Kohlschreiber
Bruguera has also named Roberto Bautista, Pablo Carreño, Feliciano López and David Ferrer in his team to face Germany, whose chief threat is world number five Alexander Zverez.
When announcing his team, Bruguera said “I cannot confirm who will play, but all the points in the tie will be important. I have been speaking to Rafa to see how he is coming along to decide whether to include him or not. He has recovered and is getting his form back more every day.”
Of Germany, Bruguera said that despite the obvious threat posed by Zverev, “the doubt I would really like to have cleared up is whether [Philipp] Kohlschreiber will play, but it will be a difficult tie in any case.
The tie will be played on clay in Valencia's Plaza de Toros on the weekend of April 6-8.