AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Former world No. 3 David Nalbandian is expected to return to the ATP at January's Heineken Open, ending a nine-month layoff due to hip surgery, tournament director Richard Palmer said Thursday.
The Argentine player is currently ranked 20th and is one of the few players on tour to have winning head-to-head records against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"Nalbandian is a quality player who has something special in his game as witnessed by his Grand Slam record of having reached a final and several semifinals," Palmer said. "He's the sort of player who has the ability to really challenge for the Heineken Open title and get back into the top 10."
Nalbandian has the chance to retain the Heineken Open, from Jan. 11-16, for Argentina. Compatriot Juan Martin del Potro, the U.S. Open champion, won the tournament last year but is not returning to defend his title.
Nalbandian, 27, has made the finals of 20 ATP singles tournaments, winning 10, and has reached the quarter-finals or better in 10 Grand Slam tournaments, including his run to the Wimbledon final in 2002.
He won 14 of his 21 matches in 2009 before the surgery in May.
