Looking for Tennis and Racket Sports International News?

World No.1 Rafael Nadal was on hand Friday afternoon to help make the 2018 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank draw at Bisha Hotel in downtown Toronto. “I’m very excited to come back to Toronto,” said Nadal, who is playing here for the first time since 2010. “[My win here in] 2008 was so special, because that victory [helped] me reach world No.1 for the first time. I’ve missed this tournament many more times because of tough injuries, so I’m looking forward to be back at a tournament that I love.”

The three-time Rogers Cup champion will face the winner of Benoit Paire versus a qualifier on Wednesday night at the Aviva Centre.

"I cannot think about Wawrinka, Kyrgios, Joao (Sousa) before playing Benoit or a qualifier," Nadal said. "I know the first round is going to be a tough battle. But watching the full draw doesn’t distract me from being focused on that first round.