"It was a tough 2017 and I need to take my calendar in a different way in order to be ready"
Sunday 24 December 2017 14:18, UK
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from his planned season opener at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi due to lingering fitness concerns.
The 31-year-old was forced to pull out of the season-ending ATP Finals in London last month due to a knee injury after an exhausting season in which he won Roland-Garros and the US Open.
"It was a tough 2017 and I need to take my calendar in a different way in order to be ready," Nadal told the official Mubadala World Tennis Championships website.
"For this reason, I have sadly announced to the organisers and now to you fans that I won't play this time in Abu Dhabi."
Spanish sports daily AS reported that Nadal had to halt his planned training schedule in his native Mallorca this week to seek medical attention in Barcelona due to the niggling knee injury.
The Spaniard will be replaced by compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut while Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic have also withdrawn from the six-man event over three days from December 28-30.
In other news, Japan's Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the season-opening Brisbane International tournament as he continues to recover from a wrist injury.
The 27-year-old sustained the season-ending injury ahead of the Cincinnati Masters in August and has been out of action for more than four months, dropping to 22nd in the rankings.
US Open champion Sloane Stephens has also been ruled out of the women's tournament at the Queensland Tennis Centre due to a knee injury.
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