MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next month before playing another tournament in his buildup to the Australian Open, the world number five said.
Nadal 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 Dec 16-18 Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event.
Nadal will be bidding for a men’s record 21st major title at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on Jan 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.