In a season that hasn't been kind to him, Rafael Nadal plans to keep himself busy ahead of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year at the US Open by committing to participate in several warm-up tournament and charity events next month.
Nadal, who is in danger of not winning a single Grand Slam title in a season for the first time since 2004, is scheduled to compete in Hamburg for the Bet-at-Home Open next week.
The 28-year old Nadal will play in Hamburg after a seven-year absence. He bagged the championship in his last appearance in the tournament in 2008, when it was still recognized as a Masters 1000 event in the ATP World Tour circuit.
Since its relegation to a 500 series event, the tourney hasn't enjoyed the same prestige and star-power it had in previous years. But with Nadal struggling to find his form, Hamburg Open organizers were able to book a commitment from one of its great champions in the past.
Currently no.10 in the world ranking, Nadal is expected to be one of the top-seeds in the tournament and could even get the no.1 seed if compatriot David Ferrer eventually withdraws his participation due to an elbow injury, according to Sporting Life.
The Mallorcan Bull will continue his US Open preparations as he dukes it out with top-tier players (Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic) at the Rogers Cup and the Cincinnati Masters.
Before he sets his foot in Flushing Meadows, Nadal is set to join John McEnroe and other tennis stars in a charity event, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project Benefit Night, at the Sportime Stadium in New York City on Aug. 26.
The US Open championships will start on August 30 through September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York.