Australian Open Expects To Have Nadal In The Draw

Written by: Staff on 3rd October 2012

Australian Open Expects To Have Nadal In The Draw

epa03084120 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's single final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2012. EPA/MAST IRHAM |

Australian Open organizers appear to have had inside information when they confidently announced that the injured Spaniard would participate in their opening major of 2013. The confirmation of the boast that the Spaniard was unlikely to miss the Melbourne date looks to have been re-confirmed by a announcement from the Gulf.

Organizers at the rich Abu Dhabi New Year exhibition, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, confirmed that the fourth-ranked Nadal had been signed into the field for the Dec 27-29 event.

The 26-year-old has been recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee since losing in the Wimbledon second round in late June. Should he show up in the Gulf for a handsome appearance fee, it would be his first (unofficial) competition in six months, a lifetime in the current game,

Nadal would be joining world number 2 Novak Djokovic, US Open winner Andy Murray and Spain’s David Ferrer in the exhibition field.

Nadal has been coy under recent questioning about his return to tennis, saying only that he would not be stepping onto a court until he was fully fit.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Australian Open, David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis News