Nadal To Practice Next Week, Will Play In Montreal

July 14, 2009 6:39 p.m. EST

Madrid, Spain (AHN) - Rafael Nadal's road to recovery should take a positive turn next week when he resumes practice for the first time, the former world no. 1 said in his Web site Tuesday.

The Spaniard has been beset by nagging injuries on his knees and is battling tendinitis that has forced him to withdraw from the Wimbledon and relinquish the overall top ranking to rival Roger Federer.

But Nadal is expected to be back on the courts Monday and will prepare cautiously for the August 8 Montreal Masters event, where he is the defending champion.

The six-time Grand Slam winner said on his Web site that he expects to resume practicing next week and compete at 100 percent for the Montreal tournament.

Nadal was in Barcelona Monday when he resumed with a series of medical examinations on his knees. His doctor, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, termed Nadal's injury evolution as "positive."

Nadal last played in the French Open in May when he lost in the quarterfinals that stopped short his four-year reign at Roland Garros.

He also skipped Spain's victory over Germany in the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie over the weekend.