By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday November 4, 2021
Rafael Nadal has officially signed on to this year’s Mubudala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. The Spaniard, out of action since early August, when he played the Citi Open, has been working to rehab his injured foot, and expects to have a clean bill of health by December.
The 35-year-old recently gave an update on his status at a sponsor 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 told the media. "I don't know exactly when I'll be back, but I can say that my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December, and then, of course, 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."
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship has also signed on Dominic Thiem, Denis Shapovalov and Casper Ruud.
Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and US Open champion Emma Raducanu are also due to play an exhibition at the event.