"It's true that I finished with an injury, so I've taken a bit of time to recover well"
Tuesday 5 December 2017 20:56, UK
World No 1 Rafael Nadal is targeting the Abu Dhabi exhibition event as his comeback after a knee injury which ended his ATP Finals hopes in November.
The Spaniard, whose season was ended by injury at the year-end tournament at London's O2, insists he is already focused on the start of a new tennis campaign.
After recuperating, the 31-year-old is back in training and targeting the tournament in the United Arab Emirates, which starts on Thursday, December 28 for his comeback.
Nadal, who won two Grand Slams, claiming his 10th French Open and his third US Open in 2017, as well as ending the year as No 1, hopes to be fit and ready for the Brisbane International before the start of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
"It's true that I finished with an injury, so I've taken a bit of time to recover well," said the 31-year-old. "That's why I've taken a couple of weeks off and I did my treatment and I need to start again, as I said before, slow. So, that's my goal: try to be ready for the beginning (of the season).
"I am going to try to play in Abu Dhabi and Brisbane before Australia, so that will be the ideal situation. And let's try to make that happen."
Nadal has spent time in the Bahamas watching Tiger Woods at the PGA Tour's Hero World Challenge during his off-season.
The 41-year-old underwent a fourth back operation in April to deal with persistent nerve pain, but Nadal believes the 14-time major champion has a chance to win trophies again.
"He has the passion for the game and if he is healthy and he is able to practice the way that he wants to practice, mentally he is a very special athlete. So, why not he can be fighting for important things?" said Nadal.
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