Rafael Nadal to play again in 2020, confirms Paris Masters participation

While Novak Djokovic has chosen to play the ATP Erste Bank Open in Vienna and skip the ATP Paris Masters in November, rival Rafael Nadal has decided to enter the tournament in France.

The 13-time French Open champion had stated after winning his latest Grand Slam title that he was not sure of his plans for the rest of the season. Nadal's concerns were largely around the fact that the Australian Open would require players to reach the continent in December to meet quarantine regulations.

However, the Spaniard now seems to have found a way to continue playing in 2020 and still be ready in time for the Slam Down Under.

"We live in difficult and different times," Nadal wrote on his Instagram handle. "8 days ago I was coming back from Paris and now here I am getting ready for my next tournament. The indoor tournament... in #ParisBercy."

The Paris Masters, scheduled to begin on 31 October, is one of three Masters Series events that Rafael Nadal has never won in his career - along with Miami and Shanghai. There are currently nine Masters 1000 events on the ATP calendar.

Nadal's best performance at the Paris Masters has been reaching the final in 2007. The Spaniard has also reached the semifinals on three occasions, including last year.

Rafael Nadal could add 640 ranking points to his total should he win the Paris Masters this season. That in turn would help him in his bid to regain the World No. 1 ranking, although it will be no easy task given the current ranking system in place due to the pandemic.

The Spaniard currently has 9,850 ATP ranking points while Djokovic has 11,740.

With the current ranking system, Nadal could win Vienna, Paris and the ATP Finals yet Djokovic would clinch the year end number one with as little as a Vienna SF and two wins in London. Even if Nadal plays Vienna, it won't be because he's trying to reach #1. https://t.co/yMTmUSrEBY

— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) October 13, 2020

The organizers of the Paris Masters have confirmed that the event will be held this year. However, there will be limited spectators allowed in the stands given the rising number of coronavirus cases in France.

The @RolexPMasters says it will have 1,000 fans per day for the day sessions but the five night sessions will be behind closed doors. Draw expanded to 56, total prize money cut 30% but R1 losers money increased.

— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) October 21, 2020

Still no word on Rafael Nadal's participation in the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals

Rafael Nadal had also been approached to play the ATP Erste Bank Open in Vienna by Tournament Director Herwig Straka, but the Spaniard declined the invitation.

With Nadal confirming his presence at the Paris Masters, many are speculating that he will also play the season-ending ATP Finals tournament. However, there has been no official word about his participation in London yet.

Rafael Nadal at the Rolex Paris Masters in 2019

The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals is scheduled to take place from 15 to 22 November at the O2 Arena. This will be the last time the tournament is held in London before it moves over to Turin, Italy next year.

The season-ending ATP Finals is another event that Nadal has never won in his career.