Spanish tennis pro Feliciano Lopez believes his compatriot and former World No.1 Rafael Nadal will be back stronger next season but admitted it would be a challenge for the “King of Clay,” with Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer playing in great form.

"With the top three guys, especially Novak (Djokovic), playing the way they are now, next season is going to be a challenge for Rafa,” Lopez told the India Times. “But he has shown what comebacks are all about earlier, and will do it this time as well."

Lopez also marveled at how “Djoker” has taken tennis to the next level and considered the top four in the world rankings as almost unbeatable. "The top four guys are almost unbeatable so if the young players have to get higher they would have to win against them first. Novak, I would say, has taken tennis to a level that we did not know exists,” Lopez added.

Lopez, currently ranked as World No. 17 at the Emirates ATP rankings, will join Djokovic and Nadal in Doha for the season opener. The tournament, which takes place from Jan. 4 to Jan. 10, will be Djokovic’s first outing of 2016, while Nadal plays in the days prior to the event at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, Nadal, along with other tennis stars, is set to kick off Asia’s International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in Tokyo, Japan. Nadal, who is playing in the IPTL for the first time, will lead the defending champions Indian Aces, along with Gael Monfis, Agnieszka Radwanska, Fabrice Santoro, Rohan Bopanna, Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodic.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has withdrawn from the international competition and will be replaced by Davis Cup winner Andy Murray and Swiss international Stan Wawrinka, according to Vavel.

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