Nadal prepares to defend Argentina Open title

Spain’s Rafael Nadal will return to Buenos Aires next week to defend his Argentina Open title and try to get over his poor showing at the Australian Open, tournament organizers said Monday.

“I asked for this wild card after the bad result in Melbourne and I hope that Buenos Aires will once again be the start of a good run for me. I will try my best to make sure it is,” Nadal said from Mallorca, where he has been practicing on clay.

The world No. 5 is joining a field at the Argentina Open, which will be held at the Lawn Tennis Club Feb. 614, that includes countryman David Ferrer, the world No. 6, and France’s JoWilfried Tsonga, who is ranked 9th in the world.

“I want to thank the organizers of the Argentina Open for giving me this wild card to play in Buenos Aires. The times that I’ve played in Argentina have been special and full of good memories because the people are some of the best in the world,” the 29yearold Nadal said in a statement released by tournament organizers.

“Having Rafa defend his title is the best possible news just five days before we get going,” Argentina Open director Martin Jaite, a former Davis Cup captain, said.

“We’re super happy that he’s going to be with us once again. He completes an incredible list. We’re going to enjoy the best tournament in Argentina’s history,” Jaite said.

Nadal will make his debut in Buenos Aires on Wednesday or Thursday of next week, organizers said, adding that the four top seeds do not have to play in the first round.

The Spanish star made the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires as an 18yearold in 2005, losing to Argentina’s Gaston Gaudio 60, 06, 16.

Ten years later, in 2015, he returned and beat Argentina’s Juan Monaco in the final.

Nadal, a 14time Grand Slam champion, had a frustrating season in 2015, when his ranking fell to as low as No. 10 and he won only minor tournaments.

The Spaniard began playing better toward the end of 2015 and began this year in auspicious fashion by winning an exhibition tournament in the United Arab Emirates, defeating bigserving Canadian Milos Raonic 76 (72), 63.

Nadal, however, was shocked in the first round of the Australian Open, where he was beaten by countryman Fernando Verdasco 76 (86), 46, 46, 36, 76 (74), 62.