WATCH: Rafael Nadal practices in Cincinnati first time in 5 years

After missing out on the Canadian Open, Rafael Nadal seemingly surprised quite a few fans by confirming his participation at the Cincinnati Open.

The 2022 season has been quite interesting for Nadal as he opened it in fantastic fashion by winning the Australian Open. After Novak Djokovic was deported from the country, the Spaniard got a unique chance to do that, and he took it.

He then bested Djokovic directly in a matchup at Roland Garros and ended up winning that event as well. Since then, he hasn’t won any other title as he struggled to remain on the tennis courts for a longer period.

He had a solid run at the Wimbledon Championships, but disaster struck in the quarter-final. He was facing Taylor Fritz in that match, and despite struggling with an injury, he mustered the resolve to finish the match and actually win it.

He won it in five sets but, after the match, confirmed that he had suffered an abdominal injury. That injury was too significant for him to continue at the event, and it left his status for the upcoming events in question.

Nadal was slated to play at the Canadian Open but withdrew from the ATP Masters 1000 event fairly late. That move suggested that he might skip the Cincinnati Masters as well, but he confirmed that he will actually play at the event.

As surprising as that was, it’s true, as he was spotted practicing at the facilities recently. It’s the first time Nadal is in Cincinnati in the past five years, and it will be the only event he will play before the US Open, so technically, this will be his only preparation for the final Grand Slam of the year.

If he finds the level he had before, he could do some damage, but his status in light of his abdominal injury remains the main question.