adminThe Spanish star has not played since June due to a knee injury but this week returned to the practice court in a bid to be ready in time for the start of the 2013 campaign.
Before his return to ATP action, Nadal is due to play in an exhibition tournament in nearby Abu Dhabi in the days before the Doha event — he is scheduled to play either Andy Murray or Janko Tipsarevic on 28 December.
He will then move on to Qatar where his main title rival will be compatriot David Ferrer.
Richard Gasquet is the other top-10 player among the entries.
Three-time champion Roger Federer, who played in last year’s Doha tournament, has not entered this time around. He has opted to play a slightly reduced schedule in 2013 and has left Doha off his diary for the season.
Meanwhile, the Aircel Chennai Open, which is being staged in the same week as the tournament in Doha, has also revealed its entry list with top-10 stars Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic the leading names on show in India. — Sportinglife
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo