MADRID: World number one Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from his planned season opener at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi due to lingering fitness concerns just three weeks ahead of the Australian Open.
Nadal, 31, was forced to pull out of the 2017 season-ending ATP Masters last month due to a knee injury after an exhausting season in which he won the French and US Opens.
“It was a tough 2017 and I need to take my calendar in a different way in order to be ready,” Nadal told the Mubadala World Tennis Championships website.
“For this reason, I have sadly announced to the organizers and now to you fans that I won’t play this time in Abu Dhabi.”
Spanish sports daily AS reported that Nadal had to halt his planned training schedule in his native Mallorca this week to seek medical attention in Barcelona due to the niggling knee injury.
Nadal still plans on going for a 17th Grand Slam of his career in Melbourne next month.
The Spaniard will be replaced by compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut for the six-man event over three days from December 28-30.
World number one Nadal pulls out of tennis season opener in Abu Dhabi
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World number one Nadal pulls out of tennis season opener in Abu Dhabi
Svitolina says mental health break fueled her run to first Australian Open semifinal
- The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2
- Svitolina, the 12th seed, reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time
MELBOURNE: Elina Svitolina credited her first-ever Australian Open semifinal run to the mental health break she took at the end of last season — a move she believes rejuvenated her.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, ending the American third seed’s bid for a third Grand Slam title.
Svitolina, the 12th seed, reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time after three quarter-final appearances, keeping alive her hopes of a maiden major title.
“It was difficult decision in one hand, but then I spoke with my team and family,” Svitolina told reporters. “If I would keep pushing last year, I think I would not start here. I would be exhausted, and even not sure if I would be injury-free.
“So for me it was important to just step back, and I’m very happy that I did that. Of course, now it’s easy to say because the results have been great ... but I still think it’s something that helped me.” Svitolina won the Auckland Open this month, her 19th WTA title, after ending her 2025 season early to focus on her mental health.
Asked whether she surprised herself with how quickly she rediscovered her form, Svitolina said: “I tried to trust myself ... When I’m fresh, when I’m mentally ready to face difficult situations, then I can play well.”
Svitolina next faces Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka, against whom she holds a 1-5 losing record.
“It’s no secret she’s a very powerful player,” Svitolina said. “The power in all parts of her game is her strength. I think she’s very consistent for the past years with everything that she does on the court. I’ll have to be ready for that, try to find the ways and the little holes, little opportunities in her game.”
