Rafael Nadal to play in Shanghai despite appendicitis

Rafael Nadal has announced that he will play at the Shanghai Masters this week, despite being diagnosed with appendicitis on Sunday.

The Spaniard went to hospital after feeling stomach pain and was offered a course of intense antibiotics to avoid surgery.

Nadal confirmed that his pain has reduced significantly and that he is expecting to play his second-round match against Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday.

“I was in the hospital on Sunday,” said Nadal. “Yesterday the nurse came to my room to give me the treatment again. Today I was at the hospital in the morning again. I had again the antibiotics.

“It seems like everything is under control now. The normal thing for the improvement to continue. I’m not going to go for surgery. That’s great news for me today.

“That’s why I’m here practising for 45 minutes and trying to play tomorrow. But obviously I am not in my best condition.

“The positive thing is I am feeling better today than yesterday. Yesterday I felt a little bit better than the day before.

“I hope tomorrow I will feel better than today. That’s why I want to try. I am in Shanghai. I am here to play a tournament. If I don’t play, I don’t have the possibility to win. So that’s it.”