November 20, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Rafael Nadal has returned to the practice court in his hometown of Manacor, Spain, a big step in his recovery from a knee injury that has kept him from playing since Wimbledon in late June. Nadal’s first U.S. appearance since the injury will come on Monday, March 4, 2013 when he plays Juan Martin del Potro in the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden (Victoria Azarenka will play Serena Williams as well).
Click here for a video from the training session that Nadal shared via social media.
Last month, Nadal spoke about chance to come back to New York so soon after having to miss the U.S. Open due to his injury:
"Playing at Madison Square Garden will be something very, very special, especially after not being in New York this year," said Nadal. "That’s something bad for me that I didn’t play in the U.S. Open. It’s something that I felt really, really bad about when I had to take this position, but having the invitation to play in the fantastic event next year will be great. I’m very excited. As I said before, playing at Madison Square Garden is something that I’m very excited to do. This is a special opportunity and I want to enjoy it."
The BNP Paribas Paribas Showdown is once again part of Tennis Night in America in the U.S., and now it is a highlight of the newly-launched World Tennis Day.
Rafael Nadal fields questions from the media as he returned to the practice courts in his home country of Spain
