Rafael Nadal has squashed reports suggesting that he could make his much-anticipated return in the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters. Nadal is currently on the road to full recovery from a hip injury, which he suffered in the second round against Mckenzie McDonald at the Australian Open.

Nadal wants to take one day at a time and he has recently returned back to training at his own academy in Mallorca. The Spaniard will look to hit the ground running in the upcoming clay court season after recently missing the crucial ATP tournaments.

Last week, the veteran also left the top 10 of the ATP Pepperstone rankings for the first time since 2005.

Speaking two weeks ago, Monte Carlo Masters director David Massey reportedly said Nadal was the first player to register for this year’s Masters 1000 event, which begins on April 8.

The tournament’s official Twitter account more recently hinted Nadal will “definitely” take part in the event. However, Nadal denied such reports claimed by the tournament’s director and Twitter handle.

“I don’t know who gets this information,” he is quoted as saying by the Spanish publication Marca. “Obviously if it were true, I would confirm it, but unfortunately I can’t. I’m following my course and I don’t know when I’ll play again, that’s the truth.

“I can’t confirm that I will play in Monte Carlo. Things are seen day by day. I prefer to say things when I really know them,” he added.

Monte Carlo Masters will kick off the clay-court season and it will commence on 8th April. Nadal has won Monte Carlo Masters a record number of 11 times but it is now unlikely that he will take part in the tournament.