Rafael Nadal will return to the ATP tour at the Brasil Open, a clay-court tournament held from February 11-17 in São Paulo, Gazeta Esportiva reports. Organizers of the Sao Paulo tournament announced the entry of the 11-time Grand Slam winner on Tuesday, according to an Associated Press report.
Nadal has not played since Wimbledon due to a knee injury. He was supposed to return in late December in Doha, but pulled out of that tournament along with the Australian Open due to a stomach virus, which prevented him from proper practice. However, Nadal also told the London Times before the pullout that his knee wasn't ready for competition.
Organizers of tournaments in Vinã del Mar, Chile (which begins Feb. 4) and Buenos Aires, Argentina (which begins Feb. 18) are also trying to recruit Nadal, who is signed up to play the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico the week of February 25.