By Bárbara Galiza

(January 15, 2013) After over seven months off court, Rafael Nadal will return to tennis two weeks earlier than planned. Brasil Open’s organization announced today the Spaniard will take part at the ATP 250 tournament, held in São Paulo on clay, from February 11th to 17th. He will then go on to play at the ATP 500 Acapulco (Mexico), beginning on February 25th.

Nadal hasn’t played a professional match since falling second round at Wimbledon to Lukas Rosol. Since July 2012, the world number four has been suffering from a knee injury, caused by Hoffa’s syndrome. He planned to return during the Australian Open, but a stomach virus harmed his preparation.

This is the first time Nadal will play Brasil Open since taking the title in 2005, when it was still held in Costa de Sauípe. That year, he went on to collect another ten trophies, including his first at the French Open.