Nadal has not played since his shock second-round exit to 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June. PHOTO: FILE AFP
The 26-year-old Spaniard joins world number one Novak Djokovic and third-ranked Andy Murray in the six-player, three-day Mubadala Championships ahead of his return to the ATP circuit at Doha from December 31.
Although desperate to play again, Nadal is equally keen to play down expectations.
“Abu Dhabi is a test,” said Nadal. “My goal is not this week, not Doha or the Australian Open. My goal is to get fit. The only thing I care about is the knee.
“The idea is to go from there. I won’t give much value to what will happen next month or in two months. My real goal is to get fully fit to face the clay season in good condition.”
Nadal shrugged off any fears that despite falling to number four in the world rankings, he is no longer a threat to Djokovic, Murray and world number two Roger Federer.
“I haven’t forgotten how to play. I have played over 600 ATP matches and I have spent two years without playing. My feeling is good. I won Roland Garros and those emotions are still in me.”
Nadal is expected to make his bow on Friday against either Olympic and US Open champion Murray or Janko Tipsarevic.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2012.
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