Rafael Nadal faces a potentially season-defining Davis Cup weekend as the 16-time Grand Slam champion returns for his first appearance since hobbling out of the Australian Open in January with a crippling hip injury.
The 31-year-old Nadal leads Spain into a home quarter-final against Germany at Valencia's iconic Plaza de Toros bullring, boasting a remarkable record in the tournament.
He is on a 22-match winning streak in singles with his only loss coming on debut for five-time champions Spain back in 2004. However, it's recent history which now concerns Nadal.
He may be back at world number one, but Nadal is far from fully recovered from the hip problem which forced him to sit out the Indian Wells and Miami Masters.
"It's been a tough few months," admitted Nadal, ahead of a Davis Cup tie which will see him go toe-to-toe with Germany's Alexander Zverev, the world number four widely seen as heir apparent to the great Spaniard.
"But I am excited to be back -- hopefully it will be a positive week for me."
- 'Sold Davis Cup soul' -
=========================
"The end of the Davis Cup. What sadness," tweeted France captain Yannick No
"They have sold the soul of an historic event. Sorry mister Davis."
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