Rafael Nadal (Photo : Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal is expected to return from injury at the Rogers Cup in Toronto next month, according to long-time coach and uncle Toni Nadal.
Toni provided a progress report about Rafa's condition following a left wrist injury that forced the King of Clay to withdraw mid-event from the French Open and skip Wimbledon later this month. According to the 55-year-old coach, Rafa should is doing well in recovering from his latest setback and should be ready to play at the ATP 1000 Master event in Toronto if "everything goes well."
"Rafa is doing well," Toni said, reports the ATP's official website.
"The Federation doctor has said that everything is progressing as it should, in the time frame we expected. Now he has to start strengthening his wrist and his arm a little bit, and in two weeks we will start training step by step, working a little bit harder each day. The doctor said everything is on the right track."
Rafa's potential participation at the Rogers Cup would serve as a testing grounds for his form heading into the 2016 Rio Olympics, which has become his fundamental goal with Wimbledon out of sight. However, Toni believes the injury has become complicated to the 30-year-old Spaniard, who has seemingly found his old niche playing great tennis prior to his latest setback.
"This injury makes things complicated after Rafa had gained good feelings, but he remains positive. He had recovered his level, was enjoying himself and this was very positive," Toni said in an interview with Onda Cero as translated by Tennis World USA.
Meanwhile, Rafael, who was nominated as Spain's flag-bearer for the Olympic Games, has been confirmed to play singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the quadrennial sporting event. The 14-time Grand Slam winner will team-up with Marc Lopez in the men's doubles category and French Open champ Garbine Muguruza at the mixed doubles.
After winning an Olympic Gold medal in singles competition back in 2008, Rafa missed the London Olympics in 2012 due to a knee tendonitis. His participation at the Rio Olympics will be his third after Athens and Beijing.
