Rafael Nadal booked for Sao Paulo return

Rafael Nadal will reportedly make his competitive return two weeks earlier than expected at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo next month.

The Spaniard was last on court at Wimbledon in June but has recovered from a stomach virus that forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open and will play in the event in Brazil beginning February 11, according to the New York Times.

Nadal was due to begin his long-awaited comeback in Mexico on clay at the end of February but is believed to be keen on returning quickly after stepping things up in training.

Tendinitis in his left knee has kept Nadal out since last summer, forcing him to miss the Olympic Games and US Open in the second half of 2012.