December 29, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Spain’s Rafael Nadal is going to take time off from tennis after the Australian Open to rest a shoulder injury. He said that this injury had arose prior to the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November and that he is still not fully recovered. He decided that he will defend his title at the World Tennis Championships which is a two-day tournament held in Abu Dhabi.
"I had a problem before London with my shoulder and I had to stop for about 10 days before the finals," said Nadal.
Nadal will now play his fellow countryman David Ferrer, a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 winner over France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He hopes his shoulder will make it through the Abu Dhabi tournament where he is attempting to win it for the third year in a row. Nadal said he was not going to change game even after losing to Novak Djokovic in six finals.
"This is not the time to change many things. This is the time to keep playing well, to keep improving my tennis. I will just try and be competitive in all tournaments," said Nadal.
