Injured Nadal set to return in December to play at Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament

The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Rafael Nadal is set to make his long-awaited return to tennis 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.

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.

Nadal said last month he had no timetable for his return and the 11-time Grand Slam champion hopes to play in the Australian Open in January.