ABU DHABI // Health issues will not prevent Rafael Nadal from appearing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) at the beginning of 2015 in Abu Dhabi.
Nadal, the world No 3, is a regular at the tournament but has had another spell away from the game.
The Spaniard was out of action for two months with a wrist injury, and when he returned to the court in China last week he was knocked out by Feliciano Lopez in the second round while suffering from appendicitis.
He said then that he might opt for minor surgery, but only after the World Tour finals in London in November. MWTC organisers said that was not serious enough to keep him away.
“The latest [with Nadal] is that we’re in touch with his team on a regular basis,” said Greg Sproule, the Middle East head of IMG, which organises the tournament.
“He just played in China and that means he is back and playing, which is great news. We’re in touch with his manager Carlos Costa, who has said he is coming to Abu Dhabi.
“We have to rely on what he is saying and we pressed him quite hard in terms of is he coming, and he said yes and said put me down and quote me that he is coming.
“So that is the strongest endorsement we can get. The fact that he has just played in China is fantastic news.”
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