Rafael Nadal to play Davis Cup: 4 reasons why the Germany tie will help the King of Clay

Rafael Nadal has been named in the Spanish Davis Cup team that is scheduled to take on Germany in the quarterfinals in Valencia on April 6-8. Nadal, who opted out of Acapulco, Indian Wells and Miami Masters after suffering a leg injury in Melbourne, is expected to play his first Davis Cup match since September 2016.

The 16-time Major winner has been practising on his beloved surface - clay - at his own academy. He is also expected to return to the ATP tour for the Masters event in Monte Carlo.

Given that the tie against Germany will also be played on dirt, Nadal couldn’t have asked for a better way to warm-up for the European clay swing. This stretch has traditionally defined Nadal's entire season, and there's no reason why things will be different this year.

Along with the 31-year-old, David Ferrer, Pablo Carreno Busta, Roberto Bautista Agut and Feliciano Lopez have also been named in Spain's team. Nadal, who has an incredible 22-1 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles rubbers, will try to lead his country to a semis spot for the first time since 2012.

Here are 4 reasons why the Davis Cup tie is likely to be a great boon for the great Spaniard:

#1 Clay is easy on the body

Nadal’s domination on clay will probably remain unmatched till the end of time. The surface also allows the ‘King of clay’ to ease into his groove and be match ready, no matter what his previous physical condition may have been.

As compared to hard and grass courts, clay is far less demanding on Nadal’s body. Given the physicality that the Spaniard brings to the court, the slowness of clay aids greatly in his movement and ball-striking.

It is also important to remember that clay will give more time for Nadal to adapt and play himself into a contest. Instead of jumping directly into a Masters event, he will first get to re-acclimatize his body for the rigours of match play.

#2 Ideal match practice

Rafael Nadal unleashing his forehand on his beloved surface - clay

Nadal is back to the top of men’s tennis. That said, he is defending 4680 points and is only marginally ahead of Roger Federer. Despite the great Swiss’s decision to skip the clay season, he can still get back to No. 1 if the Spaniard fails to dominate the clay season.

It’s no secret how much the next few months mean to Nadal’s ranking, form and mindset. With three Masters (Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid) and a 500 event (Barcelona) lined up, all leading up to the French Open, Nadal will need to be in best shape possible to defend his supremacy.

While Nadal might have already started his preparation at his academy with coach Carlos Moya, there is no substitute for match practice. And at the Davis Cup, there are no points or ranking to defend. Also, training and being with the team members will only add to his confidence.

Finally, it should not be forgotten that Nadal can always play the doubles rubber as well. Given the credentials of the fellow Spaniards in the squad, he will have the liberty to ease into the groove by playing any format of his choice.

#3 Head-to-head edge over opposition players

Alexander Zverev (L) and Rafael Nadal

Alexander Zverev, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Jan-Lennard Struff, Tim Puetz and Maximilian Marterer will represent Germany in this tie. While Zverev and Kohlschreiber are quality players, Nadal has a handsome record against the two.

Zverev has never beaten Nadal in three attempts, and Kohlschreiber has been successful only once in 15 outings. On clay, though, the Spaniard has a 5-0 record over the German.

Considering his past success against the line-up of players awaiting him, Nadal would fancy his chances of making short work of them - again making this tie the perfect practice session for the 16-time Slam champion.

#4 The confidence factor

Nadal is a great frontrunner, but often takes time to get into his rhythm. Moreover, he prefers to get as many matches under his belt as possible to be match- and tournament-ready.

While he might be at home playing on clay, it is imperative that he feels good about his movement and form before he steps foot in Monaco. It remains to be seen how many matches Nadal will play in Valencia, but even a win or two will surely lift his confidence and propel him to bigger things in the months to come.

Beating Nadal on clay is no mean task, let alone beating him in a best of five sets encounter. While it is possible for someone to play attacking tennis and shock Nadal, doing it over a period of five grueling sets will be a Herculean task.

The joy of exultation - such a common sight for Nadal on clay

Given his comfort level on the surface and the time it allows him to get into his stride, it is difficult to see any German player beating Nadal in Valencia. And that can only bode well for the Spaniard's confidence heading into Roland Garros.