Nadal plans late December return
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this March 20, 2010 file photo, Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif. Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the London Olympics, saying he is 'not in condition' to compete. Nadal said in a statement Thursday July 19, 2012 it is one of the saddest moments of his career and that he will not travel with the Spanish delegation to London. He was set to be the flag bearer for Spain during the opening ceremony. Nadal won gold in Beijing in 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Rafael Nadal plans to return from a knee injury at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament in December.
Organizers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship said on Tuesday in a statement that Nadal is set to join a field including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and David Ferrer.
The tournament runs from Dec. 27-29.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nadal hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June. He is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion said last month he had no timetable for his return and was targeting the Australian Open in January for his return to competitive tennis.