Richard Krajicek: 'Rafael Nadal is one of my favorite players, I can't wait to..'

Established in 1974, the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam became one of the most established indoor events on the Tour. Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Guillermo Vilas, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Michael Stich, Goran Ivanisevic, Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka are among the list of champions, with another strong edition coming in the first week of March. Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Gael Monfils, Roberto Bautista Agut, Stan Wawrinka, David Goffin and Jannik Sinner have signed to play in Rotterdam, joined by the 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal! World no. 2 has decided to enter the Rotterdam draw for the first time in 11 years, seeking the second ATP indoor hard title following Madrid 2005.

Rafael Nadal will compete in Rotterdam for the first time since 2009.

With the calendar changes due to the coronavirus, Nadal will have enough time to return to Europe and prepare for his first indoor event of the season instead of traveling to Indian Wells. Rafa is currently in Adelaide, preparing for the ATP Cup and the Australian Open, where he will chase the 21st Major title. Nadal played in Melbourne twice in the past, making a debut in 2008 and losing to Andreas Seppi in the second round. A year later, Rafa came to Rotterdam after winning the Australian Open and battled past four rivals to reach the final, the first on an indoor court after Paris 2007. Losing too much energy in the previous rounds, Rafa won the second set against Andy Murray before experiencing a bagel in the decider to settle with the runner-up prize, hoping to go a step further in the first week of March. Jannik Sinner can't wait to see Nadal at his tournament, praising the Spaniard and his consistency over the years.

"It's no secret that Nadal is one of my all-time favorite players. The intensity and emotion he brings to the court is unmatched. His fighting spirit, in combination with a unique technique, is an example for everyone. The fact that he returns to Rotterdam after so many years makes it extra special. What was valid with his debut in 2008 still applies, and he is again ranked 2nd; that shows how unique he is," Richard Krajicek said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3o5qKOQ