Nadal on double duty in Hamburg return

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal at a press conference on Saturday prior to the start of the Hamburg Open on Monday. - EPA

HAMBURG: Rafael Nadal will mark his return to Hamburg after a seven-year absence with a tough opener against compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Nadal, down at 10 in the world after a tortuous year in which he lost his French Open title and suffered another early exit from Wimbledon, has decided to play the clay court tournament in a bid to resurrect his fortunes before heading for the US hard court season.