World number two Rafa Nadal was confirmed to play the China Open next week at the Olympic Green Tennis Center where he won the gold medal last year, organizers said in Beijing on Friday.

The Spaniard had been doubtful for the 6.6 million dollars mixed event due to an abdominal injury but organizers said he is now fit and ready to appear in the event where he last played and won in 2005.

Organizers said his doctor had given him a thorough physical check and confirmed that he has fully recovered.

Chen Zhen, the competition supervisor, said, "We are happy that Nadal has passed the physical check. We are all looking forward to watching him put up good performance for the fans."

The China Open will for the first time be played in the Olympic venue. The prize money has been increased to a total of 6.6 million US dollars, with 4.5 million going to the women.

Nadal, who has not played since a US Open semifinal defeat to eventual champion Juan Martin Del Potro last month, will be joined by world number four Novak Djokovic and number six and defending champion Andy Roddick. Russia's Marat Safin, the 2004 champion, has announced that he will retire after the tournament.

Women's world number one Dinara Safina arrived in Beijing early after being eliminated in the first round in Tokyo.

A key rival to her resurgence will be Serena Williams, playing her first tournament since the abusive and threatening tirade she launched at a line judge in a semi-final loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the US Open.

Sister Venus, another top seed knocked out in Tokyo at the first hurdle, is also in Beijing, as are most of the world's top 20, including defending champion Jelena Jankovic.

China's top three players, Li Na, Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai, will be expected to shine in front of home fans.