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 The Spaniard has played at Queen's five times and on each occasion
went on to reach the Wimbledon final a few weeks later, winning the
grasscourt major in 2008 and 2010.
Since his last visit to the Queen's Club lawns in 2011, however,
Nadal's luck at Wimbledon has run out, losing in the second, first
and fourth rounds.
The world number three adds to an already strong cast at Aegon
Championships at the select west London club where former home
favorite Andy Murray, defending champion Grigor Dmitrov and U.S.
Open holder Marin Cilic are already committed to play.
"I'm very happy to be back. Queen's is a great event, I always
enjoyed it, I had some great feelings there, the atmosphere of the
club -- a real tennis club -- is very special, the courts are
unbelievable and I'm very happy to be back," Nadal said in a
statement on Monday.
"I enjoyed Halle but the results have not been perfect for me in
Halle, so I want to try Queen's again where the grass courts are a
little bit more similar to Wimbledon."
Britain's tax laws were cited as one reason nine-times French Open
champion Nadal decided to stop playing at Queen's.
Tournament director Stephen Farrow said it was great to have the
28-year-old back.
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"Rafa is one of the greatest tennis players of all time and he is
universally popular, so this is fantastic news for the Aegon
Championships and our spectators," he said.
"We have stayed in contact with Rafa and his team over the years and
we always hoped he would return one day."
This year's Queen's tournament has been upgraded to an ATP 500 and
will begin on June 15, a week later than usual to allow players more
of a grasscourt swing.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman)
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