Rafa Nadal ready to ‘set myself up for a strong campaign’ in Abu Dhabi

Ahead of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Rafael Nadal says 'I feel in great shape' for 'a very important springboard for what's to come in the season ahead'.

Rafael Nadal serves during an ITPL match in New Delhi last weekend. Tsering Topgyal / AP / December 12, 2015

Rafael Nadal says he is ready for the “perfect preparation” to start his season in Abu Dhabi in two weeks’ time. And more importantly, Nadal feels he is in top shape again.

Nadal is the headliner at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, where he expects to start feeling out his form ahead of the Australian Open. He said the Abu Dhabi tournament, where he’ll play on New Year’s Day in the semi-final, will be a “very important springboard” as he seeks to put behind him a rough 2015.

The Spaniard struggled with second and third round exits at Wimbledon and the US Open and could reach just the quarter-finals at the Australian and French Opens. His Roland Garros exit was just his second loss in the tournament.

Read more: Rafael Nadal in Abu Dhabi – Your guide to the Mubadala tennis championship

He fell as low as No 10 in the ATP rankings following his disappointment in Paris, but appeared to pick up some steam in the Asian swing of the tour and put in a strong showing at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals, where he reached the final to face Novak Djokovic.

Now, Nadal is targeting getting off to the right start for 2016 in the UAE capital. He says he’s in “great shape” to make it happen.

“Coming to Abu Dhabi for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship is always special, it is the perfect preparation for me to get ready for a new season,” said 29-year-old Nadal. “I feel in great shape so it should be incredible experience for me, for the other players and of course for the fans coming out to support us.”

Nadal said he was looking forward to testing his strength against a field that also includes Stan Wawrinka, David Ferrer, Milos Raonic, Kevin Anderson and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Also see: Rafa Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and the tennis stars on show in Abu Dhabi

“It’s a very important springboard for what’s to come in the season ahead. The facilities are top-notch and it’s a place I enjoy coming to,” he said. “And with the strong competition lined up, I’ll be trying to set myself up for a strong campaign.

“Hopefully I can be successful and lift that trophy for the third time.”

Rafael Nadal won the second and third editions of the Mubadala tournament. He also reached the final in the inaugural staging in 2009, and has played at six of the seven held.

The eighth Mubadala World Tennis Championships begin on December 31 in Abu Dhabi. For ticketing information visit their website.

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