Rio Open: Rafa Nadal's fitness will be tested at Brazil's ATP 500 event
Tuesday 17 February 2015 09:20, UK
Playing tennis in Rio de Janeiro a stone’s throw from the beautiful Copacabana Beach may seem idyllic but for Rafa Nadal it will be purely business.
The Spanish great won the inaugural edition of the ATP 500 event last year but his inclusion this year will be about assessing his physical capabilities for the upcoming majors.
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Nadal’s opening Rio match is on Tuesday evening against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci and will be his first return to the court since an Australian Open quarter-final defeat to Tomas Berdych. The first Grand Slam of 2015 ended prematurely for Nadal but after last year was curtailed by appendix surgery and those notorious knees, his rejuvenation remains a work in progress.
So, despite playing in the city that made carnivals famous, Nadal’s slow reintroduction to life in the fast lane of elite tennis will take precedence over the glorious scenery that will stage the event.
The searing heat that will engulf the court may make conditions more like the world-famous nearby beaches but could also pose fitness issues – not least to the fragile Nadal.
Yet the clay courts, as they so often have, will benefit the 14-time Grand Slam champion, who is the top seed and favourite to succeed again in Rio having lifted his 62nd career trophy last year by beating Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Carnival atmosphere
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Nadal’s compatriot David Ferrer, another clay court specialist, is also heading to Brazil and will be hoping to add to his 23 ATP World Tour titles following his recent triumph in Doha.
But the Spanish duo may have to keep a watchful eye on Italian Fabio Fognini, who has won all three of his ATP World Tour titles on clay and enters the Rio Open among the top seeds.
The Rio crowd will be fully behind Sao Paulo’s Thomaz Bellucci, the world No 63, while other respected names such as Tommy Robredo and Santiago Giraldo are also present.
But most of the focus will be on Nadal as he returns to action - under the shadow of Christ the Redeemer - and attempts to revitalise his stuttering career.
Tune in on Tuesday at 3pm on Sky Sports 3 for the afternoon session, and 9pm for the evening session.
