MADRID - Rafael Nadal has asked to begin his participation in the Madrid Open a day later than planned due to an ear infection, meaning he will face Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday.

Nadal is seeking to maintain a perfect start to the season by posting his third consecutive claycourt title after winning the Barcelona Open and Monte Carlo Masters, but his preparation for the tournament in the Spanish capital has been interrupted by the infection.

"On Friday I woke up at three in the morning with pain, a discomfort I had never felt before," the 14-time Grand Slam winner told a media conference on Monday.