BRISBANE, December 28, 2017

Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Brisbane International due to an ongoing knee injury

“I am sorry to announce I won’t be coming to Brisbane this year. My intention was to play but I am still not ready after last year’s long season and the late start of my preparation. I had a great time there and it was a great start to the month I spent in Australia,” Nadal stated on twitter.

However, the Spaniard added that he still intends to play at the Australian Open.

I will be seeing my Aussie fans when I land on the 4th in Melbourne and start there my preparation for the Australian Open.

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) 27. Dezember 2017

Earlier in the week, Nadal had been forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Federer Arrives In Perth

Meanwhile, Roger Federer has arrived in Perth for the 30th edition of the Mastercard Hopman Cup. The 36-year-old Swiss returns to Australia, where he clinched the trophy in Melbourne last year.

“I’ve got to try and keep it cool. Try my best and see what happens but the preparation has been good so far,” said Federer, who did some sightseeing in Western Australia ahed of the Mixed Team Competition and visited Rottnest Island in a helicopter.