Rafael Nadal reveals injury update in Madrid
RAFAEL NADAL says he is on course to return to action at the Mexico Open - but will pull out of the tournament if he is not 100 per cent fit.
Rafael Nadal is currently out injured with a thigh problem
Rafael Nadal is recovering from a thigh injury picked up in the Australian Open.
It forced him to withdraw from his quarter-final clash with Marin Cilic.
Nadal has set the Mexican Open on 26 February as his ideal return date.
He is aiming to be ready to compete at in Indian Wells and Miami come the spring.
But the world No 1 says he will only compete in Acapulco if his injury if fully recovered.
My calendar is the same
"As with any injury, I'm working to meet the deadlines and trying to shorten them,” Nadal said at the MAPFRE Clinic for Tennis Medicine in Madrid.
“So for now my calendar is the same and I plan to travel to Mexico to play in Acapulco.
“I’m going to play what makes me happy to play.”
Nadal is currently battling to fend off a resurgent Roger Federer from his world No 1 ranking.
Rafael Nadal exited the Australian Open because of his injury
Nadal retires with injury during Australian Open quarter final
Federer is expected to play in Dubai the same week as Rafael Nadal is scheduled for Mexico.
Should both men NOT compete then the gap between them will shrink to just 155 ranking points.
However, Nadal has already insisted he will not put his body at risk just to defend ATP ranking points.