Nadal targets return at Abu Dhabi exhibition before Aussie Open
World No 5 struggled with back issues at the start of the year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the Olympics
02 November 2021 - 17:19
byManasi Pathak
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Bengaluru — Rafa Nadal is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi in December before playing another tournament in his build-up to the Australian Open, he has said.
Nadal, the world No 5, struggled with back issues at the start of this year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. He last competed in August at the Citi Open in Washington.
He announced ahead of the US Open that the injury to his left foot would rule him out for the rest of the year but said on Monday he might return at the December 16-18 Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event.
“My plan is to play Abu Dhabi in December and a tournament before playing the Australian Open. It is my goal and we are working hard to make it that way,” Nadal said at a sponsor event in Paris.
“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back, but ... my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December ... for the start of the new season in January.
“The injury in my foot still needs to get a little better, but I’m already training almost an hour-and-a-half a day so that’s positive.”
World No 12 Dominic Thiem, who has not played since suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open in June, will also return to competitive tennis in Abu Dhabi. Organisers confirmed the 2020 US Open champion’s participation with Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov, Emma Raducanu and Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic also named for the event.
Nadal will be bidding for a men’s record 21st Major title at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on January 17.
Victoria premier Daniel Andrews has said no unvaccinated players would be permitted to play despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling local media they could compete but only after undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Nadal targets return at Abu Dhabi exhibition before Aussie Open
World No 5 struggled with back issues at the start of the year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the Olympics
Bengaluru — Rafa Nadal is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi in December before playing another tournament in his build-up to the Australian Open, he has said.
Nadal, the world No 5, struggled with back issues at the start of this year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. He last competed in August at the Citi Open in Washington.
He announced ahead of the US Open that the injury to his left foot would rule him out for the rest of the year but said on Monday he might return at the December 16-18 Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event.
“My plan is to play Abu Dhabi in December and a tournament before playing the Australian Open. It is my goal and we are working hard to make it that way,” Nadal said at a sponsor event in Paris.
“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back, but ... my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December ... for the start of the new season in January.
“The injury in my foot still needs to get a little better, but I’m already training almost an hour-and-a-half a day so that’s positive.”
World No 12 Dominic Thiem, who has not played since suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open in June, will also return to competitive tennis in Abu Dhabi. Organisers confirmed the 2020 US Open champion’s participation with Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov, Emma Raducanu and Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic also named for the event.
Nadal will be bidding for a men’s record 21st Major title at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on January 17.
Victoria premier Daniel Andrews has said no unvaccinated players would be permitted to play despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling local media they could compete but only after undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
Reuters
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