Kooyong Is Holding A Spot In The Field For Nadal, If He Wants To Play

Written by: Staff on 30th December 2012

Rafael Nadal will not compete in 2012 Mubadala World Tennis Championship

Kooyong Is Holding A Spot In The Field For Nadal, If He Wants To Play

epa03517832 File -- File photo showing Spanish Rafael Nadal during his match against Swiss Roger Federer at Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 31 December 2011. The tournament organizers announced on 25 December 2012 that 'Rafael Nadal has been forced to make a last-minute withdrawal from the 2012 event due to a stomach virus,' and 'was advised by doctors not to travel or compete due to the illness.' Nadal has not played since June 2012, when he was eliminated in Wimbledon's 2nd round by Czech Lukas Rosol. He was supposed to come back after a successful knee injury rehab. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

The AAMI Classic at Kooyong Club is holding a spot in the eight-man exhibition field open for Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard was forced by ill health to give up on plans to play this week in Abu Dhabi. Nadal could conceivably be a late entry into the pre-Australian Open exho in Melbourne at the former home of the Open until the late 1980s.

Nadal was offered a spot in the field a month ago, but now the invite might have more resonance if the fourth-ranked Spaniard is ready to make a comeback to tennis after six months out with a left knee injury followed by the stomach virus and fever which forced him to pull the plug on Abu Dhabi.

His appearance at next week’s ATP start in Doha would appear also to be under a cloud.

Kooyong boss Colin Stubs said a place in the field is being saved for Nadal right up until the last moment. “I’m sorry to hear that Rafa’s plans for a return in Abu Dhabi are not as he wanted,” he told local media. “We’ve not heard anything official but his management knows we are ready to help if we can.

“I was speaking with his management a couple of months ago because I was feeling … he might want a few matches coming into the Australian Open,” added Stubs. Nadal last played in the Wimbledon second round in late June, where he lost to Czech Lukas Rosol.

Even when announcing his intended comeback to the sport, the 11-time Grand Slam winner said that his only goal was to be fit by the spring clay season, the part of the year where he traditionally dominates.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: aami clasic, Atp, australian news, kooyong club, pre-Australian Open, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis