“I’m not going full out on the training sessions – [I am] conserving the energy for next week. Hopefully, it won’t cause an issue for me then.”

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz headlines the tournament withdrawals, which include Marin Cilic, Reilly Opelka, Gael Monfils, Kamil Majchrzak and Attila Balazs on the men’s side.

Chinese player Saisai Zheng pulled out on Sunday night with a wrist injury, joining Naomi Osaka, Ajla Tomljanovic, Paula Badosa, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Qiang Wang in missing the women’s event.

Matches begin on Monday from 11am, with top seed Nadal’s afternoon clash with fast-rising British left-hander Jack Draper one of the most anticipated on the opening day.

The 21-year-old, who is ranked 40th in the world, is one of the most promising players on the tour and made the third round at his most-recent grand slam appearance at the US Open.

Draper also took a set off Djokovic at Wimbledon two years ago when he was still a teenager.

“There’s no denying [Nadal]’s one of my heroes. Honestly, growing up I watched him a lot – same with Andy Murray, same with Djokovic, same with [Roger] Federer, all these guys,” Draper said.

“I wouldn’t be the tennis player I am probably without them, so there’s that side of it, where he’s the 22-time grand slam champion [and] one of the greatest of all-time, but at the same time, he’s one of my competitors now.

“I need to block all that out and go on court against him and give it my all.″⁣

Nadal lost both of his matches at the United Cup this month, to Brit Cameron Norrie and Australia’s Alex de Minaur, and six of his past seven contests going back to last year and fended off retirement questions in recent weeks.

But Draper is not underestimating the Spanish legend.

“One thing I’d say is even though, maybe, he hasn’t been in amazing form; you know he’ll be ready on Monday to play really well, and I’ll be expecting him to play some great tennis,” Draper said.

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