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Cape Town - Rafael Nadal will make his return to the ATP Tour this week following nearly three months on the sidelines.
The 14-time grand slam winner withdrew on the eve of Roland Garros in May due to a wrist injury.
The Spaniard made his return to tennis to represent his nation at the Rio Olympic Games, where he was surprised how his wrist held up.
"Two and a half months without competing and to be able to arrive there with no practice at all and be able to win the matches that I won in singles and doubles was a great thing," the 30-year-old told ATP World Tour website.
"In Mallorca I have had five weeks, almost six weeks with the wrist immobilised. Just weights and some therapy with the physio and all the things that I could do to try to accelerate the process a little.
"Looks like after a marathon for me in the Olympics that the wrist resisted, so that's great news for me."
While Nadal was bundled out in the semi-finals in Rio by a resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro, he did manage to secure gold in the men's doubles with partner Marc Lopez.
Nonetheless, he expecting a step up in intensity at the Cincinnati Masters this week.
"Cincinnati is a Masters 1000... it's a big event…it's obvious that's going be tough," continued Nadal, who opens against Pablo Cuevas.
"I am here to try my best and I am here to play at the highest level that I could. I'm going to try to have a good practice this afternoon to be competitive for tomorrow (Wednesday)."
The 14-time grand slam winner withdrew on the eve of Roland Garros in May due to a wrist injury.
The Spaniard made his return to tennis to represent his nation at the Rio Olympic Games, where he was surprised how his wrist held up.
"Two and a half months without competing and to be able to arrive there with no practice at all and be able to win the matches that I won in singles and doubles was a great thing," the 30-year-old told ATP World Tour website.
"In Mallorca I have had five weeks, almost six weeks with the wrist immobilised. Just weights and some therapy with the physio and all the things that I could do to try to accelerate the process a little.
"Looks like after a marathon for me in the Olympics that the wrist resisted, so that's great news for me."
While Nadal was bundled out in the semi-finals in Rio by a resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro, he did manage to secure gold in the men's doubles with partner Marc Lopez.
Nonetheless, he expecting a step up in intensity at the Cincinnati Masters this week.
"Cincinnati is a Masters 1000... it's a big event…it's obvious that's going be tough," continued Nadal, who opens against Pablo Cuevas.
"I am here to try my best and I am here to play at the highest level that I could. I'm going to try to have a good practice this afternoon to be competitive for tomorrow (Wednesday)."
