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28 March 2024

Abu Dhabi return for fit-again Nadal

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning the men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 11, 2012. (REUTERS)

Published
By AFP

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal will make his much-anticipated return from a knee injury at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament starting December 27, he announced via social networks on Tuesday.

"Can't wait to get back on court in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month," Nadal posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

"I won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in 2010 and 2011 - would love to get my hands on the trophy again this year!" he added.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion started training again at the end of November, having been out of action since his shock second-round defeat at Wimbledon to Czech Lukas Rosol in June.

He was then diagnosed as suffering with Hoffa's syndrome, an inflammation of the fatty tissue in his left knee that has sidelined him several times over the years.

The injury denied Nadal a chance to defend his Olympic singles title at the London Games and also forced him to miss the US Open and Spain's Davis Cup final defeat to the Czech Republic.

The 26-year-old Spaniard joins world number one Novak Djokovic and third-ranked Andy Murray in the six-player, three-day Mubadala Championships ahead of his return to the ATP circuit at Doha from December 31.

Nadal hasn't played since his shock second round exit to 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June, missing the Olympics, the US Open as well as the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic which his country lost.

Although desperate to play again, Nadal is equally keen to play down expectations.

"Abu Dhabi is a test. My goal is not this week, not Doha or the Australian Open. My goal is to get fit, recover all my feelings. The only thing I care about is the knee," the seven-time French Open champion said.

"The idea is to go from there. I won't give much value to what will happen next month or in two months. My real goal is to start in perfect condition at Indian Wells and Miami and reach Monte-Carlo with good feelings, to face the clay season in good condition."

Nadal, an 11-time Grand Slam title winner, has been plagued by knee injuries throughout his career, a legacy of his all-action style.

But he shrugged off any fears that despite falling to number four in the world rankings, he is no longer a threat to Djokovic, Murray and world number two Roger Federer.

"I haven't forgotten how to play. I have played over 600 ATP matches and I have spent two years without playing. My feeling is good. I won Roland Garros and those emotions are still me," he said.

"I know I'm going to play in Abu Dhabi without the knee being great, but I feel better. The doctors say it is fine and that is great news for me. I still feel something, it's not perfect."

Nadal insisted he is not bitter over his recent experiences.

"I have accepted it as normal, as part of my career, part of my job. It's another challenge," he told marca.com.

"All I can do is try. But people have to realise that when you're so many months without competing you need time to progress."

The tournament in Abu Dhabi also features world number five David Ferrer of Spain, world number six Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and Serb Janko Tipsarevic, the world number nine.

Nadal is expected to make his bow on Friday against either Olympic and US Open champion Murray or Tipsarevic.