Nadal aims to carry Olympic boost into US Open

Rafael Nadal (ESP) reacts during practice on day four during the Western and Southern tennis tournament at Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, USA on August 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Rafael Nadal was exhausted yet exhilarated following his emotional return to action at this month's Rio Olympics after an injury-absence and is looking forward to gearing back up for the US Open starting on Monday.

"If you're not excited about the US Open, you’re not a tennis player," Nadal told reporters.

Injuries are affecting several top players heading into the last grand slam of the year in a season made even more hectic with the Olympics squeezed into the schedule.

Men's top seed Novak Djokovic, like Nadal, is also dealing with a wrist injury and women's number one Serena Williams is coping with a sore right shoulder.

Lefthander Nadal, sidelined after being unable to play his third-round match at the French Open because of an injured left wrist, decided to test himself in Rio.

"I was two months and a half outside of the competition, and not only outside of the competition, outside the practice courts. I couldn't practise," the Spanish fourth seed said at Flushing Meadows on Friday.

Nadal, 30, said he was determined to give it a try in Rio and ended up feeling good enough to compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.