Nadal out of season-opening Abu Dhabi event

Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from next week's season-opening exhibition event in Abu Dhabi due to ongoing fitness problems, the world number one has said. The 16-time grand slam champion, who won the French and US Opens earlier this year, withdrew from the ATP Finals in November after struggling with a knee injury during his round-robin defeat by Belgian David Goffin.

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from his season opener at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi due to lingering fitness concerns: https://t.co/vg4UaADHse pic.twitter.com/rscaF4mEaK

— Sky Sports Tennis ? (@SkySportsTennis) December 23, 2017

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has previously played at the tournament on eight occasions, will be replaced by compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut. "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 organisers and now to you fans that I won't play this time in Abu Dhabi."

In doubt for the first weeks of 2018

Nadal
Wawrinka
Murray
Nishikori
Raonic
Gasquet

And we thought 2017 was tough...

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) December 22, 2017

Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic have also withdrawn from the tournament, which is held from Dec. 28-30. The Australian Open, the first major of the new season, begins on Jan. 15.

Rafael #Nadal pulls out of season opener in #AbuDhabi https://t.co/qsU7BSBzom pic.twitter.com/cQFgnBIXLD

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) December 23, 2017