It has come to light that Rafael Nadal is returning to South America to play early next year in the inaugural Rio Open at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Particularly, the Rio Open will certainly replace the joint event at Memphis in Tennessee.
Apparently, the declaration happened to solidify a change in strategy when it comes to Nadal who has perfectly scheduled his season. Notably, during the last seven years, the Spaniard chose to take a month-long break following the Australian Open in January. Subsequently, he came back at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells at California in March. In fact, the break allowed him to satisfy his Davis Cup obligations side by side rest his knees for the push through Indian Wells and Miami, which is led by his heavy clay schedule ultimately reaching to the French Open.
Nadal began to overcome his left-knee injury seven months ago in Chile. However, this time he will be playing in Brazil under quite a different condition as the defending U.S. Open as well as French Open champion. In fact, Nadal commenced his 2013 season by coming back to South American clay for the first time since 2005. Further, he proceeded to make the final of the VTR Open in Chile and subsequently won the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo. This was his first title since winning the French Open in 2012. Regarding that early-season clay run, which he had not performed since 2005, prepared him well for the season, where he played 13 tournaments. He entered the final of 12 and won 10, including the French Open plus U.S. Open and obviously he is on the brink of overtaking Novak Djokovic for the World No. 1 ranking.
Remarkably, the 15th-23rd Feb clay-court tournament is a combo of ATP and WTA event which is scheduled to be played at the Jockey Club Brasileiro. In addition, David Ferrer will be in the field.
