In Abu Dhabi, the 13th Mubadala World Tennis Championship will be held between December 16-18. In the last notable tennis event of the 2021 season, Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Denis Shapovalov, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, and five-time champion Rafael Nadal will compete for the title.
It took Nadal over three hours to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas two years ago in the title match, and he hopes for more in the upcoming tournament. His foot injury forced him to close the season earlier than expected and undergo a minor procedure in Barcelona.
Twenty-time Major winner Federer is back on the practice court in Mallorca, where he will play Murray or Thiem in the semi-final in Abu Dhabi on December 17, his first match in nearly four months. Rafael is cautious in his statements ahead of his long-awaited return, saying he needs matches to evaluate his current level. In 2021, Nadal played 29 matches, suffering injuries in the opening weeks and skipping the ATP Cup before the Australian Open.
Clay king Rafael Nadal won two titles on his preferred surface in Barcelona and Rome, seeking his 21st Major title at Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon and the Olympics. The Spaniard then played two matches in Washington before withdrawing from Wimbledon. This was a clear sign that Rafa should finish his season and avoid more serious troubles with his injury, taking a break and hoping for a fresh start in 2022.
"Until I have things 100% clear, I can not say much; in the end, I do not know either. As I said a few weeks ago, my idea is to be in Abu Dhabi, and that's still my plan. After that, things will be taken week by week, as always when you make a comeback and want to compete at your best. You do not know where you are until you increase the number of matches and test yourself at the highest level. At the moment, I have to follow a specific pattern. Things are better than before; otherwise, I would not consider going to Abu Dhabi. What will happen from now on? I do not know; Abu Dhabi is a test for me, and I'm looking forward to being there," Rafael Nadal said.