Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer start training for Monte Carlo Masters

Tennis rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have already started preparing for their next tournament, which will be at the ATP 1000 Monte Carlos Masters on Apr. 10-17.

Federer and Nadal have kicked off their respective bids to return into competition, with the Swiss Maestro and King of Clay already in Monaco to acclimate themselves for the beginning of the clay-court season. After withdrawing from the Miami Open last week, Federer and Nadal seem to be in good shape and ready to compete at the Monte-Carlo Country Club as pictured on Twitter.

@angelomangiante @meloccaros Re Roger mentre si allena a Montecarlo pic.twitter.com/DCe3QPYTlF

— Daniel Piazza  (@danielpiazza_) April 2, 2016

Credit: Twitter/Daniel Piazza

Mi amigo @RafaelNadal ya lo tiene! __ #DeOficinistaAfinisher pic.twitter.com/vGaDKAIaEW

— Carlos Llano (@CarlosLlanoFdez) April 2, 2016

Credit: Twitter/Carlos Llano

Federer has not been in any tennis action since the Australian Open, where he suffered a knee injury a day after losing to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinal round. The 34-year-old, after recovering from a knee surgery, was scheduled to make a return in Key Biscayne, but a stomach virus forced him out of the tournament.

Nadal, on the other hand, was also set for competition at the Miami Open, which was another chance for the Mallorcan to reclaim his winning formula amid struggles to win a title this season. Like Federer, the 29-year-old Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a dizzy spell during his second round match against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.

"If the health is fine in a couple of days and nothing is there, I will be ready in a couple of days and I hope to be ready for the clay," Nadal said after his short-lived stint in Miami, reports the India Times.

However, both players’ return could only be an attempt to test the waters of the clay-season and their readiness to compete at a high level at Roland Garros. Federer and Nadal have not won a Grand Slam for a significant amount of time and it would be interesting to see how the two would fare in the coming major events.