Rafael Nadal returns to actions though fans won't be present at next week's Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Nadal will play his second tournament of the season and first since bowing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

More: Nadal Visits Academy Construction

Eleven-time Monte-Carlo champion Nadal will be eager to regain the Monte-Carlo championship he last held in 2018. The draw will be held on Friday.

Since 2005 only three men not named Nadal have won Monte-Carlo: Novak Djokovic (2013, 2015), Stan Wawrinka (2014) and reigning champion Fabio Fognini, who raised the title in 2019. The tournament was not contested last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Monte-Carlo will be played behind closed doors. Players have the option of staying in the official tournament hotel or staying in private homes as several stars, including Djokovic, world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, who maintain residences in Monte-Carlo and will be permitted to sleep in their owns beds.

Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters