'I feel good ahead of Monte Carlo,' said Rafael Nadal

The 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal finally returns to action at the next week's Monte Carlo Masters, chasing his 12th title in the Principality and the first since 2018.

Nadal has been the dominant figure in Monte Carlo for almost 15 years, making a debut in 2003 at 16 and winning the first title two years later to start unprecedented domination. The Spaniard is eager to show his best tennis at the favorite event and beloved surface, playing only one tournament so far in 2021 and hoping for a much better run in the next two months.

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Rafa suffered a back injury in Adelaide in January, traveling to Melbourne with many concerns over his physical strength and skipping the ATP Cup to avoid making things worse. Entering the Australian Open, the Spaniard defeated four rivals in straight sets to avoid stressing his back and reach the quarters in style. Playing on a high level versus Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rafa claimed the opening two sets against Stefanos Tsitsipas before the Greek fought back in the third, taking it in the tie break and keeping that level in sets four and five to stun Nadal and send him out from the competition.

Rested and ready to give his 100%, Nadal will seek the first title since the last year's Roland Garros in Monte Carlo, avoiding meeting Novak Djokovic before the final and hoping to continue where he left in 2018.

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"I feel good about how I am training and my body's shape. I'm not used to coming to this tournament with only a couple of matches at the beginning of the season, but I'm excited about the challenge," Rafael Nadal said.