Nadal to defend Argentina Open title

Spanish tennis player, Rafael Nadal, confirmed on Monday he would try to defend his title next week in the Asociation of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.

"I want to thank the organizers of the 'Argentina Open' for inviting me to play in Buenos Aires. The times I have played in Argentina have been special and full of happy memories because the public are completely different to any other crowd in the world," said Nadal.

The organizers confirmed Argentina's Open will take place from Feb. 6 to 14 in Buenos Aires' Tennis Lawn Club on clay. The winners will receive 523,470 U.S. dollars cash prizes.

Four players currently located in the top 12 of the ATP's world ranking will participate in the annual tournament.

They include; Nadal (number 5 seed), his countryman David Ferrer (6), the Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (9) and the American John Isner (12).

Nadal said the invitation came "after a bad result" in the Australian Open played in the city of Melbourne. The Spaniard went out in the first round to fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco in five sets.

"I hope Buenos Aires will once again kickstart another season of good performances in my career. I will give my all to make it just so," Nadal said from the Spanish island of Majorca.

Having Nadal "defending his title is the best news we could receive with only five days until the tournament starts," said former Argentinian tennis player and tournament organizer, Martin Jaite.

"We are happy he will be with us once again. He completes an incredible line-up. This will be the best (tennis) tournament in Argentina's history," added Jaite.

In 2015, the Spanish tennis player won the title after defeating Argentina's Juan Monaco in straight sets. Enditem