Rafael Nadal Commits To Play Doubles at Rogers Cup; Spaniard Holds Practice With Fellow Big 4 Rival on Saturday

Former world's no.1 Rafael Nadal will be testing his knee not only in the men's singles tournament but also in the men's doubles play at the 2013 Rogers Cup.

The Montreal Masters men's doubles draw was announced on Saturday, pitting in the pairing of Nadal and Pablo Andujar in an early round collision with compatriots David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez.

Nadal, who skipped last year's Rogers Cup to rehabilitate his ailing left knee, is determined to make up for the lost time there by participating in the doubles tournament despite a tough schedule ahead in the men's singles.

The 27-year old Nadal has spent the last few weeks training on the hard court following a first round loss at the 2013 Wimbledon Open. Despite his insistence that his knee is in fine condition, many tennis analysts are still raising the red flag for Nadal as he heads into the hard-court season.

The Spaniard has already been drawn in a very competitive bracket in the men's singles tournament, facing the possibility of playing upcoming star Jerzy Janowicz in the third round, Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarterfinal, and world's no.1 Novak Djokovic as early as the semifinal round.

By committing to play doubles at the Rogers Cup, the 12-time Grand Slam champion is risking the contingency of suffering another setback because of the added pressure he will be putting on his knee.

Nadal, who receives a first round bye, will kick start his men's single campaign against the winner of the opening round match between Belgian Xavier Malisse and Canadian wildcard entry Jesse Levine.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray has already started his preparation for the upcoming tournament on Saturday by having a practice session with Nadal.

Coming off his first Grand Slam championship in Wimbledon a month ago, Murray enters the hard-court as 'the man to beat' going forward to another Grand Slam competition in Queens, New York weeks from now.

"Hitting with Rafa Nadal on a sunny and busy centre court today... and the football season has finally started!," the Briton posted on his Facebook account.