Nadal holds out slim hope for 2012 return

Rafa Nadal has no timeline for his return to competitive tennis, but on Tuesday the world No 4 did not completely rule out the possibility of returning from injury in time for next month's Davis Cup and ATP World Tour finals.

Nadal has not played since suffering a shock second-round Wimbledon defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol in June and has yet to return to the practice court, but the 26-year-old Spaniard left the door open for a comeback before the end of the season.

He conceded, however, that the chances of appearing at the ATP World Tour final in 26 days or helping Spain against the Czech Republic in the Nov 16-18 Davis Cup final were remote.