Rafael Nadal: Miami Open hopeful Alexander Zverev issues Spaniard big Davis Cup warning

The German will be his country’s talisman as they face Spain in Valencia in a tournament dubbed the ‘World Cup of Tennis’.

The two nations meet for the first time in four years with Germany looking to reach the semis for the first time since 2007.

But they face a huge task up against the returning Nadal, who is set to play for the first time since the Australian Open after a recent recurrence of a troublesome hip injury.

That forced him to withdraw from Acapulco, Indian Wells and the Miami Open but ahead of the clay-court season, Nadal is set to feature in his first Davis Cup match since September 2016 as he bids to rediscover full match fitness.

Despite his absence from the circuit, the tennis legend will regain the ATP World No 1 spot from rival Roger Federer later this month after the Swiss ace’s poor Miami performance.

Yet Nadal has been issued a warning from Zverev – the highest remaining seed in Miami after Federer’s early exit – that his return in the Davis Cup will be far from routine on April 6-8.

Nadal has won 22 of 23 singles matches in Davis Cup history and helped Spain to three titles, the last in 2011, and will be favoured by their Germany clash taking place on his favoured surface.

“This tie is very difficult for us, especially against Spain on clay,” acknowledged 20-year-old Zverev.

“I heard Rafa is going to be playing and that’s not easy but, look, we have a very good team and after many years we have a good doubles [team] again so that helps.

“We have a variety of players in the team and that’s something you cannot underrate.

“In a lot of matches, we will be equal or favourites.

“Obviously, in the matches against Rafa on clay nobody else is favourite but hopefully, on the last day I can give him a hard time there.

“I’m ready to play whoever and I don’t particularly care [who it is], I’m trying to win.

“That’s what I’m trying to do, but obviously against Rafa it’s going to be another special match.”

All of Spain’s five nominated players are in the top 35 of the singles rankings whereas Germany only have two inside the top 50, with Zverev and No 31 Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Nadal is joined by compatriots Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta, Feliciano Lopez and David Ferrer, chosen by captain Sergi Bruguera for five-time winners Spain.

The tie consists of five best-of-five-set matches across three days – with two singles clashes between the best-ranked players, a doubles match and another two reverse single matches with the contestants from the first day swapping opponents.

Zverev beat Nick Kyrgios in the last-16 in Miami on Wednesday morning to set up a quarter-final showdown with Borna Coric in Key Biscayne.

But Zverev has lost all of his three ATP meetings with Zverev thus far, including their last – also on clay – in Monte Carlo last year.