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December 27, 2012

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Nadal pulls out of Abu Dhabi event, delays return

RAFAEL Nadal announced late on Tuesday that doctors had ordered him to pull out of what was to have been his first comeback tournament after a seven-month hiatus nursing a knee injury.

The 26-year-old Spaniard announced on his Facebook page that a fever caused by a stomach infection had forced him to pull out of an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on December 27.

"I am very disappointed that I will not be able to compete this year in Abu Dhabi," he said. "Everything had been prepared."

Nadal added that he had been very keen to return to the Middle East competition but doctors had told him his body needs rest "to fight this stomach virus."

Nadal said his withdrawal would disappoint the fans and the tournament, which is due to feature top-ranked Novak Djokovic and No. 3-ranked Andy Murray of Britain, but emphasized that it was not prompted by his knee injury.

"My rehab has gone well, my knee feels good and I was looking forward to competing," he said.

Nadal is now expected to make his return at the Qatar Open, which begins on December 31.

The knee injury prevented Nadal from defending his Olympic singles gold at the Olympics in London.


 

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