Rafael Nadal to play in Rotterdam for the first time since 2009

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal has signed to compete at the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam at the beginning of March, returning to a prestigious indoor event for the first time since 2009!

Nadal will seek the second ATP title on an indoor hard surface (the only came in Madrid 2005) against Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Gael Monfils, Roberto Bautista Agut, David Goffin, Stan Wawrinka and Jannik Sinner.

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Nadal will kick off the season at the ATP Cup and the Australian Open in Melbourne, returning to Europe after that and preparing for indoor duties in Rotterdam, hoping to go at least one step further than at the Paris Masters and the ATP Cup last November.

In his previous Rotterdam trip in 2009, the newly-crowned Australian Open champion defeated Simone Bolelli, the young Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils, losing too much energy and having nothing left in the tank ahead of the final clash with Andy Murray.

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After an hour and 51 minutes, Andy scored a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 victory for the tenth ATP title and the seventh on an indoor court. Rafa grabbed four breaks (three in set number two) and lost serve seven times to propel Andy over the top.