Rafael Nadal "first player to be registered" for Monte-Carlo Masters 2023, reveals tournament director

Rafael Nadal's fans have reason to be happy as the tournament director of the Monte-Carlo Masters has stated that the Spaniard was "the first player" to be registered for the 2023 edition.

Nadal sustained a hip injury during the second round of the Australian Open this year, and has been out of action ever since. He missed making the trips to the Middle East and also to the United States for the Sunshine Double.

The Spaniard had also missed the Monte-Carlo Masters for the first time in his career last year. That was on account of a rib injury that he picked up during the final of the 2022 Indian Wells Masters.

But David Massey, tournament director of the Monte Carlo Masters that begins in April, recently stated that Nadal is "giving himself every chance" of taking part this time around.

"Rafa was the first [player] to be registered. He really wants to play at the Monte-Carlo Masters and is giving himself every chance to take part in the tournament he's so fond of," Massey said.

Rafael Nadal, who won the Monte-Carlo title for the first time in 2005, went undefeated for a whopping eight editions on the trot. Last year he skipped both Monte-Carlo, where he has won 11 times, and Barcelona, where he has triumphed on 12 occasions. But he still went on to win the French Open for a 14th time.

Rafael Nadal's phenomenal records at the Monte-Carlo Masters will take some beating

Nadal won the Monte-Carlo trophy back in 2016 after missing out for three years

In 2005, Rafael Nadal won his first Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo. In the final he got past Guillermo Coria, who had won the tournament the previous year.

The Mallorcan, who was 18 at the time, thus became the youngest player to win a Masters since Michael Chang in 1990.

Nadal went on to defeat Roger Federer at Monte Carlo thrice in a row between 2006 and 2008, before overcoming Novak Djokovic in the 2009 final.

Djokovic ended Nadal's eight-year winning streak by prevailing in the 2013 final. Nadal then had to wait until 2016 to make it to the final again, missing out in both 2014 and 2015.

But three straight titles from 2016 to 2018 ensured that the 'King of Clay' improved his overall tally to 11 tournament wins.

Nadal holds the record for 16 appearances without a break, between 2005 and 2021, at the event hosted by the Roquebrune-Cap-Martin commune. The 2020 edition had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rafael Nadal also holds the record for the most successive appearances in the Monte-Carlo final. He made it to the title round on nine straight occasions between 2005 and 2013.