Nadal hints he’s finally ready to return

Rafael Nadal’s on-off relationship with tennis may be switched on again after the  Spaniard dropped a hint on social media of his impending return.

Nadal and acolyte Carlos Alcaraz are due to bank the big bucks on March 3 in Las Vegas with a payday funded by Netflix. 

While the 20-year-old Alcaraz is mired in an injury morass after rolling his ankle this week in Rio, Nadal, the 37-year-old who has played just five matches since January of last year, appears to be fit again.

“Work in progress 🎯 Las Vegas & Indian Wells,” he posted in a social media vid.

The exhibition is conveniently scheduled within easy flying distance of the Indian Wells Masters in the Californian desert, the first 1000 tournament of the season.

Nadal owns three titles at the desert resort and is keen to prove that he has the staying power to get through at least another season after well over a year away with a hip flexor problem.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, tweeted reassurances from his physios that his ankle injury is not serious, presumably freeing him to front up for a few millions courtesy of exhibition largesse.

Speculation says that Nadal will play only Indian Wells and will not risk himself at the ensuing Miami Masters in order to preserve himself for his preferred spring clay season.