Rafael Nadal vs Stanislas Wawrinka LIVE: Latest score and tennis updates from Hurlingham Club

Rafael Nadal is preparing for Wimbledon next week

Rafael Nadal returns to the grass court for the first time since 2019 this afternoon in an exhibition match against Stan Wawrinka at Hurlingham Club in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.

Nadal was a major doubt for Wimbledon after foot problems following his French Open victory in Paris, but in choosing to play at Hurlingham has signalled his intent to return to the All England Club later this month. The 36-year-old has already triumphed at the Australian and French Opens, is halfway to a calendar Grand Slam in 2022 and will be using the exhibition matches at this week to prepare for the next major of the year.

Novak Djokovic is also in action and his match against World no. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime will follow Nadal vs Wawrinka. Djokovic has not played since losing to Nadal in the French Open quarter-finals and is also looking to prepare for what would hopefully be a lengthy Wimbledon campaign by participating at Hurlingham.

Nadal and Wawrinka are due on court from 2:30pm with coverage being live streamed on the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic Facebook channel and website.

Follow all the action from Hurlingham Club as Nadal prepares for Wimbledon with an exhibition match against Wawrinka:

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Emma Raducanu seeded 10th for Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu will be seeded 10th for this year’s Wimbledon Championships, the All England Club has confirmed.

The US Open champion, who has been battling injury in the build-up to the tournament, advances one place from her world ranking due to the absence of world number six Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Wimbledon announced in April that it would ban players from Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

British men’s number one Cameron Norrie rises three places from his ranking to be seeded ninth, while Dan Evans will be seeded 29th.

Emma Raducanu seeded 10th for Wimbledon

British men’s number one Cameron Norrie rises three places from his ranking to be seeded ninth, while Dan Evans will be seeded 29th

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek chasing further success at points-less Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek will look to continue their winning runs as Wimbledon prepares for another unusual edition of The Championships.

After 2020’s Covid-related cancellation and last year’s restrictions, the tournament will appear normal from the outside for the first time since 2019.

But Wimbledon’s decision to bar Russian and Belarusian players in response to the invasion of Ukraine has had serious repercussions, with the ATP and WTA deciding to withhold ranking points from the tournament.

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek chasing further success at points-less Wimbledon

There will be no ranking points but plenty on the line at the All England Club

‘Perfect warm-up for Wimbledon’ says Murray

Although he is absent from this year’s event, Andy Murray is a big fan of the Giorgi Armani Tennis Classic even going so far as to call it the ‘perfect warm-up for Wimbledon’.

“It’s the perfect way for me to warm up for Wimbledon – there’s always a great atmosphere and the setting is absolutely stunning.” he said.

The roster of current and former tennis stars to feature at the Hurlingham Club makes this event a hidden gem on the tennis calendar and should provide some interesting tennis as the players get reaquainted with the grass courts.

What is the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic?

The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic takes place betwen 21st – 26th June 202 at Hurlingham Club in London and features present ATP players and former tennis stars called ‘Legends’ playing in exhibition matches on grass courts ahead of the tournament at Wimbledon.

This year features current players including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexei Popyrin, Hugo Gaston, David Goffin, Casper Ruud, Stan Wawrinka and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The action will be live streamed on the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic Facebook channel and website which can be accessed right here.

When is Wimbledon and when is the draw?

The action at Hurlingham is all part of the build-up to Wimbledon with the British major right around the corner. The seedings are now set for the iconic grass-court event at the All England Club ahead of a tournament that will be like no other this year.

Ranking points have been stripped from the Championships after the All England Club took the decision to ban players from Russia and Belarus as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.

There are plenty of storylines elsewhere, with Emma Raducanu set to return to SW19 for the first time since winning the US Open last September. However, the 19-year-old remains an injury doubt, as does Andy Murray as the two-time Wimbledon champion prepares for another crack at a grand slam.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams has received a shock wildcard at the age of 40 and a year after her last singles appearance, while Novak Djokovic will be out to stop Rafael Nadal’s grand slam bid after the Spaniard’s victories at the Australian and French Opens.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the tournament.

When is Wimbledon and when is the draw?

Everything you need to know as the Championships return to SW19

Nadal and Djokovic prepare for Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic get their preparations for Wimbledon underway today in exhibition matches at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic live from Hurlingham Club in London.

Nadal will be first on court as he faces three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka in a singles match. It will be Nadal’s first match on grass since 2019 and he’ll be hoping to discover enough form to make a challenge for the title at Wimbledon later this year.

Djokovic is up against World No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime who should provide a good test for the five-time Wimbledon champion.

Nadal and Djokovic in action ahead of Wimbledon

Follow all the latest from Hurlingham Club today.

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