After a couple of weeks on the sidelines Rafael Nadal enters the fray in Paris against compatriot Nicholas Almagro.

Paris is one of the few big titles on tour that Nadal has yet to win, something he shares in common with Roger Federer. With several Masters Cup places often still on the line it’s generally a thrilling climax to the season and has become accustomed to surprise winners such as last year when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bulldozed his way to the title.

Nadal’s best chance of winning in Paris so far came in 2007 when he made the final before getting completely outplayed by an inspired David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-0.

Since the US Open Nadal has played two tournaments, making the semis of Beijing and the final of Shanghai, losing to Marin Cilic and Nikolay Davydenko. The results might concern him slightly as both were very similar in style to his crushing US Open semi-final defeat – big hitting opponents, having a good day and simply blowing Nadal off the court with crunching flat groundstrokes, something he had little answer too.

There should be few worries about a repeat happening today. Almagro has a big forehand but is generally too inconsistent to worry Nadal who has won all four of their previous matches. They had quite a close second round in the US Open this year but Nadal came through 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Nadal is 1/9 with Boylesports and Almagro is 7/1 with Blue Square