Rafael Nadal "training hard" and ready for clay following back injury

Rafael Nadal is back on court and practicing for the Monte Carlo Masters next week—his first scheduled event since the Australian Open.

Back problems forced him to withdraw from the ATP Cup before the Australian Open, where he fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets. Nadal also withdrew from the Miami Open.

But Dr. Angel Ruiz Cotorro of the Spanish tennis federation (RFET), speaking to *RTVE*, says Nadal has done some "good training" and is ''training hard" to get ready for the clay season.

''His objective is clay, first Monte Carlo," said Ruiz Cotorro, who is also the Spaniard's longtime doctor.

Nadal would be going for his 12th title at the Masters tournament and bidding to extend his clay-court dominance for yet another season. He has not yet confirmed his other events going into the French Open, though he has frequently played Barcelona, Madrid and Rome in previous years—but also recently indicated that he wants to reduce his schedule.

Nadal is currently No. 3 in the rankings.