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 Rafael Nadal of Spain the season in Germany after Hamburg officials announced on Monday that they have signed the Spaniard for their clay event starting next week. The world number 10 Nadal is fighting to earn a place in the year-end ATP championships in London - and currently stands eighth and last on the provisional list - and won the Stuttgart grass title last month. Hamburg tournament director and former Wimbledon winner Michael Stich has been working for months to get Nadal into his field. While no contract terms were revealed, German media speculated that the former number one would command up to 500,000 euros (540,000 dollars) as an appearance fee. Stich hopes to make that up at the box office, but admits the deal is a calculated risk for the 500 level tournament. "We are thrilled that the best clay court player of all time will play. Of course there is some financial risk, but players like Nadal are magnets for spectators," he said. Nadal won the Hamburg title in 2008, beating Roger Federer in the final. Hamburg had been searching for a box office draw after 37-year-old native Tommy Haas, back on court after his third shoulder surgery, opted not to get back onto clay for one week amid the hardcourt run-up to the US Open over the North American summer. But Stich added: "We will certainly get it right so that it can be reasonable to say goodbye to his fans in Hamburg (at a future date)." Nadal will be due to play on the ATP for the first time since losing to German Dustin Brown in the Wimbledon second round. | |||||
lundi 20 juillet 2015
Nadal to make post-Wimbledon return on Hamburg clay next week
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