Rafael Nadal's sister Maribel excited as former US Open champ Marin Cilic accepts wildcard at ATP Challenger event hosted by Spaniard's academy

Former US Open champion Marin Cilic has accepted a wildcard to participate in the Rafa Nadal Open, an ATP Challenger event held in the Spaniard's academy in Mallorca. Nadal's sister Maribel shared her excitement about the news.

Cilic has been suffering from injury problems since the beginning of last year as he injured his knee during an ATP 250 event in Pune, India. He returned to court in July 2023 at his home tournament in Croatia. However, following a first-round defeat at the Umag Open, Cilic took another long hiatus.

The Croat returned to tour again in 2024 and participated in four tournaments in the first six weeks of the year. He faced a first-round defeat in all events. His last competitive match was in Buenos Aires in February.

After over a six-month-long break, Cilic is back again and will play an ATP Challenger event in Spain. He will be one of the big names at the Rafa Nadal Open. The event will take place between August 26 and September 1. It will be played at the 38-year-old's academy in Mallorca.

Nadal's sister Maribel took to her Instagram Story to repost an update about Cilic accepting the wildcard.

Maribel Nadal's Instagram Story. (Source: Instagram)

Cilic has previously won two titles at the ATP Challenger Tour in Casablanca and Rijeka. 17 years later, the Croat will hope to add a third title in Spain.

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Former US Open winners Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz have previously participated in Rafa Nadal Open ATP Challenger event

Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz. (Image: Getty)

Some big names have graced the Rafa Nadal Open in the past even though it is an ATP Challenger event. Andy Murray, who won the US Open in 2012, participated in the event in Spain in 2019. Upon confirmation of the Brit's participation, Nadal had said:

“I’m very happy to have Andy Murray playing there... It’s great news for us, of course, but for him and for the world of sport that’s great news and I wish him the very best."

At the time, Murray was facing a rough period in his career. Since 2017, he was struggling with hip injuries and had undergone multiple surgeries before playing in Spain.

In the same year, Carlos Alcaraz also participated in the Rafa Nadal Open. Alcaraz faced defeat in the first round against Jurij Rodionov in straight sets. Three years later, the Spaniard went on to win his first Grand Slam title - the 2022 US Open.