Nadal's return a boost for depleted US Open men's draw

Nadal returned to the tour only last week at the Cincinnati Open, having not played a competitive match since pulling out of his Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury in early July. The 36-year-old's comeback was marked by a defeat to Borna Coric at the Masters 1000 event but more importantly for the Spaniard he did not seem hampered by the injury.

Flushing Meadows has been a happy hunting ground for the left-hander, who won the hardcourt major four times before he skipped the 2020 tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic and missed last year's edition due to injury. "I need to move forward and just start to think about the energy that the crowd gives me in New York," Nadal, who won the Australian and French Open titles in 2022, said last week.

"I know it's a very special place for me, and I enjoy it, unforgettable moments there, and I'm going to try my very best every single day to be ready for that." Dominic Thiem, the men's 2020 champion, will also return to Flushing Meadows after his absence last year due to injury. MIGHTY MEDVEDEVWithout a clear favourite in the men's draw, Nadal's biggest threat is expected to come from reigning champion and world number one Daniil Medvedev.

The Russian went down in five sets in the 2019 final to Nadal and has also finished runner-up on the hardcourts of the Australian Open in the last two editions. The rangy Russian has won 14 singles titles in his career -- all but one on hardcourts, including his only major when he denied Djokovic the calendar Grand Slam last year at Flushing Meadows.