Rafael Nadal will play his first grass court tennis since winning Wimbledon in 2008 after announcing plans to play at the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in June.

In 2008, Nadal became the first man in history to win the ‘treble’ - taking titles at the French Open, The Queen’s Club and Wimbledon in a single, glorious month, but last year, knee problems prevented him from defending his grass-court titles. He can’t wait to put that right in 2010.

Buy Tickets

"I always look forward to coming to England to play at The Queen's Club and Wimbledon but this year there is even more motivation because I could not defend my titles last year,” said Nadal, who joins the US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in making early commitments to the field at the AEGON Championships.

“No-one was more disappointed than me that I couldn't play because I love those tournaments,” added Nadal. “Queen’s is a big, important tournament played at a very nice, traditional club and it was an amazing feeling to win it in 2008 and then to fulfill my dream by winning Wimbledon. To not defend my Wimbledon title last year was one of the toughest decisions in my career, but this is a new year and now I have the chance to go back to England and to compete on the grass again."

Nadal had won four French Open titles and reached two Wimbledon finals by the time he arrived in London in 2008. At The Queen’s Club, he saw off two of the biggest servers in tennis - Ivo Karlovic and Andy Roddick - before winning a thrilling final against Novak Djokovic to take the title. His run ensured that he arrived at Wimbledon in perfect shape and form, and his 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7(8), 9-7 victory over Roger Federer was the longest-ever Wimbledon final. The match was later described by John McEnroe as the best in history. Nadal went on to win Olympic gold in Beijing and finish the year as the World No.1 before triumphing in another stunning final against Federer at the Australian Open.

The Spaniard’s knee problems began in the clay court season a few months later, and took their toll in his fourth round loss to Robin Soderling. He did all he could to be ready for the AEGON Championships and Wimbledon, but was finally forced to admit defeat and withdraw.

For Chris Kermode, AEGON Championships Tournament Director, the news that Nadal will return to compete in 2010 is a huge boost.

“Rafa is one of the best and most popular tennis players of all-time and so it is fantastic news for the tournament and British tennis fans that he has chosen to compete at the AEGON Championships again this year. For three years he played his heart out in London only a couple of days after winning the French Open, and he desperately wanted to play last year, too. We look forward to welcoming him back in June.”

The AEGON Championships will take place 7th-13th June, 2010. The event will be broadcast live, every day, on BBC Television and Eurosport.

For more information, please click here to the official AEGON Championships website.