Rafael Nadal hopes Argentina Open will be start of good season

Rafael Nadal hopes the start of a good season for him begins at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires on Feb. 8.

Nadal has confirmed he will defend his title at the Argentina Open, his first tournament since his first round exit at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The Spaniard admitted he asked for the wildcard of the tournament as he tries to move on from the stunning defeat he suffered in the hands of his compatriot Fernando Verdasco, who took Nadal to another epic five-set battle.

“The years when I have played in Argentina were special and full of beautiful memories because the crowd is one of the best in the world,” Nadal said in a statement posted on the tournament’s official website. “I asked for this wild card after the bad result in Melbourne, and I hope Buenos Aires will once again be the beginning of a good season.”

Nadal won the ATP World Tour 250 in Argentina last year after defeating Argentinian Juan Monaco in straight sets 6-4 6-1. However, this year would prove difficult for Nadal to defend his title, with the tournament boasting a strong lineup of participants in David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and John Isner, according to the ATP’s official website.

Winning the tournament would be vital for Nadal’s confidence as he gears up for the remaining major tournaments this season. Last year, the “King of Clay” did not win any major title for the first time since 2004. The 29-year-old Mallorcan had a chance to break the spell last month at the Australian Open, but Verdasco proved to be too much for the 14-time Grand Slam winner.

But despite his recent struggles on the hard court this season, Nadal is convinced he is on the right track to finally bury a forgetful 2015 campaign.

"I know that I'm doing everything right. The work has been done,” Nadal is quoted as saying in this ATP World Tour report.