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Nadal Aims for December Return


Rafael Nadal is aiming for a December return from ankle surgery.

The second-ranked Spaniard, who underwent ankle surgery last week, plans to make his 10th appearance at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in December.

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Nadal joins the six-man field set for December 27-29th, organizers announced on the Mubadala World Tennis Championship website.

"Abu Dhabi is one of my favorite places to play, the climate, atmosphere and enthusiasm from the crowds at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship provides the perfect start to the new season," Nadal said in a statement. "The tournament brings together players at the top of their game; we all relish playing in these extremely competitive matches.”

The 32-year-old Nadal has not played a match since retiring from the US Open semifinals while trailing Juan Martin del Potro. The 17-time Grand Slam surgery said his ankle surgery "went well."

Nadal joins world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung and Karen Khachanov in the men's field for the 11th annual exhibition. Venus Williams is one of two women announced for the women's exhibition.



Djokovic and Nadal were scheduled to square off on December 22nd in the controversial King Salman Tennis Championship staged in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

Critics charged the pair's decision to play in Saudi Arabia after the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi sent a message of support to a regime that has been accused of assassination, kidnapping and repression.

However, after Nadal's ankle surgery, Djokovic said their scheduled exhibition in Saudi Arabia has been canceled.

Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport

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