Rafael Nadal is set to play at Bet-at-Home Open, also known as the German Open Tennis Championships, in Hamburg, Germany. It will be the 109^th edition of the tournament, which runs from July 25 to Aug. 2, 2015.

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Contrary to initial reports claiming that the 14-time grand slam champion will return to action by competing in hard court tournaments such as the Rogers Cup in preparation for the fourth grand slam tournament of the season at the US Open come September, Nadal opted to play in his favourite clay surface in Rothenbaum. It will be the first time in the last seven years that Nadal will play in the tournament.

The organisers announced via Twitter that Nadal, who won the title in 2008 after beating Roger Federer 7-5(3) 6-7 6-3 in the finale, will be taking part at the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament. The Spanish tennis ace leads the player field, which includes 2015 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Gilles Simon, fellow compatriot David Ferrer, Juan Monaco, Andreas Seppi, Tommy Robredo, and Roberto Bautista Agut.

7 years after his last match in #Hamburg @RafaelNadal returns to the Rothenbaum for the bet-at-home Open #BAHO2015 pic.twitter.com/nSwobxPuEU

— bet-at-home Open (@Am_Rothenbaum) July 20, 2015

Tournament Director Michael Stich has been trying to get Nadal back on the player field in this year's edition of the Bet-at-Home Open, DPA International reported. It has been speculated that Nadal will get as much as half-a-million dollars just for showing up, but Stich isn't worried because he knows that Nadal can certainly attract people to watch the event.

"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 magnet for spectators," Stich said.

Nadal is hoping to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London in November. The winner of the tournament will receive 500 points. If Nadal becomes successful and wins another trophy at Bet-at-Home Open, he will also be able to improve his rankings. The 29-year-old Mallorca native is currently going through one of the worst seasons of his career. He only won two titles, both minor from ATP World Tour 250 events at the Argentine Open and Stuttgart Open. Nadal last played at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships where he was upset 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-4 by German Dustin Brown in the second round. 

Tagsrafael nadal, bet-at-home open, rothenbaum, Germany, ATP World Tour, tennis