Rafael Nadal is back in Basel action on Wednesday as he faces Pierre-Hugues Herbert in round two. Meanwhile, Roger Federer will begin his quest to go one step further than he did last year when he kicks off his campaign against Gilles Muller.

(Q) Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs. (2) Rafael Nadal

In the wake of a wrist injury and appendicitis, Nadal is unquestionably well shy of 100 percent. That being said, the world No. 3 finally has some semblance of momentum heading into the Swiss Indoors Basel second round on Wednesday. Nadal, who fell in the Beijing quarterfinals to Martin Klizan and in the Shanghai second round to Feliciano Lopez, kicked off his week on Monday with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Simone Bolelli. It was the Spaniard’s first career match victory in his third appearance at this tournament.

Up next for Nadal is Herbert, whom he has never faced. The…