Rafael Nadal, winner of both the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open in April, will have to delay his opening match at the Madrid Open to Wednesday (May 10) due to an ear infection, the Spaniard said at a news conference.

Nadal is fourth seed for the tournament, behind Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, but he has had an incredibly successful 2017 so far. Apart from his three titles in Monaco, Barcelona, and Brisbane, Nadal reached the finals at Miami, Indian Wells and the Australian Open - losing to Roger Federer in all three - and Acapulco, where he lost to big serving Sam Querrey.

Asked about Novak Djokovic's decision to part with his coaching staff, Nadal said it was difficult to analyse the effect of such a decision, adding that if Djokovic had made the move it was because it was positive for him.

Nadal will play Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday (May 10).