Woot!! Rafa to return earlier than expected ...

I'm not really wooting - well I am, sort of, but still nervously - as we get even more hopeful of Rafa's recovery.

Twitter was awash with news this morning that Rafa is to come back to the Tour slightly earlier than expected. Yes, we've all read the rumours that Carlos Costa was negotiating with the Chile tournament, but it is confirmed that Rafa will participate in the Brazil Open at Sao Paulo from the 11th to 17th February.

Christopher Clarey of the New York Times tweeted this ...

Rafael Nadal's camp has confirmed to me that he WILL return to #tennis, after nearly 8 months, at Sao Paolo event starting Feb. 11 #ausopen
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 15, 2013

And he seems to be hinting that Rafa could come back even sooner than that ... but there's nothing substantial at the moment.

There is also the possibility that Rafael Nadal could return even earlier than Sao Paulo. Unclear for the moment #tennis
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 15, 2013

A good move by Rafa? Yes, I think so if he feels up for it, and let's face it, that knee has to be tested somewhere. Sao Paulo and Acapulco could prove to be the test and work out that he needs. The rest of the Tour will be well into their season by the time he gets back, and whilst I'm not expecting much from him in the Indian Wells/Miami Masters, he has to have been able to put some work in somewhere before the European clay season starts.

Let's hope we can keep up with this positivity.