Spanish tennis federation doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro has revealed that Rafael Nadal could return to the court in around "a month's time".
The 11-time Grand Slam champion has been out of action since his shock second-round Wimbledon exit at the hands of Lukas Rosol in June.
He has been suffering from a partial tear of the tendon in his left knee, but Ruiz-Cotorro believes that Nadal could recover sufficiently to be back within 30 days.
"In a month's time, if the tests and his progress are positive, he can get back to work on the court," says Ruiz-Cotorro.
Nadal's injury has ruled him out of the ongoing US Open, which continues tonight with Britain's Andy Murray in quarter-final action.