World Number 1, Rafael Nadal said he is fit and ready to defend his Monte Carlo Masters title and the number-one ranking this week, as he returns to the ATP Tour after his injury layoff.
The 31-year-old Spaniard made his comeback from a hip injury with two wins in Spain’s Davis Cup quarter-final victory over Germany last weekend, having not played previously since January’s Australian Open.
Nadal was forced to retire from his last-eight clash with Marin Cilic in Melbourne but recently usurped Roger Federer at the top of the world rankings after his great rival’s early exit in Miami.
The 36-year-old Federer ruled himself out of the whole of the claycourt season, after skipping the same period last year and going on to win Wimbledon.
Djokovic is playing for the first time since splitting from coach Andre Agassi and gets his campaign underway against fellow Serb Dusan Lajovic on Monday.
The two-time Monte Carlo champion has struggled for form and fitness this year, losing both of his opening matches in Indian Wells and Miami.
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