Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has confirmed he plans to play in the Indian Wells hardcourt Masters tournament that begins on Monday in southern California.

The world No.5, coming back from a seven-month injury layoff, said the event in the California desert was one of his favourites.

“I love it and I look forward to competing,” Nadal said.

The March 4-17 Indian Wells tournament is one of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events, which rank only below the four grand slams and the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in terms of ranking points and prestige.

Nadal, who won the Mexican Open over the weekend, also confirmed he planned to play in an exhibition on Monday at New York’s Madison Square Garden with Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.

“The exhibition in New York will help me get on a hardcourt before the Masters in Indian Wells and I’ll go there after that,” Nadal said.

The 26-year-old Nadal, an 11-time grand slam champion, began last summer on a high note by capturing a record seventh French Open title beating world No.1 Novak Djokovic, but he went off the ATP Tour after a shocking second-round loss at Wimbledon.

The Spaniard said in August he was suffering a knee ailment known as Hoffa’s syndrome, which is also known as fat pad impingement and involves pain and swelling under and around the bottom of the kneecap.