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

#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.