Rome (AFP)

Rafael Nadal, absent from the US Open, is already hard at work on the courts of Foro Italico, in Rome, in preparation for his return to competition after more than six months of hiatus due to the coronavirus, according to photos posted on social networks.

"Rafa Nadal is already here, doing his first training," said a message, photo of the Spanish champion in support, posted Thursday on the Twitter account of the Masters 1000 in Rome, which begins Monday.

Another photo and another message - "We are there" - on Nadal's Instagram account.

Rafael Nadal, whose last tournament played (and won) dates back to Acapulco at the end of February, had decided this summer not to make the trip across the Atlantic for the US Open due to uncertain sanitary conditions and the overloaded schedule after the break. caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

His return to Rome (September 14-21), where he has already won nine times, should allow him to prepare for Roland-Garros, which will begin on September 27.

In a video message released on Tuesday, during the press conference to present the tournament, Nadal expressed his pleasure in finding the Italian courts: "The Foro Italico is always a special place for me and it will be even more this year, because that this will be my first tournament after a very long time without playing ".

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