Nadal gears up for Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - Only 29-years-old, Nadal has become a global icon after his 14 Grand Slam wins

Tennis fans the world over have grown accustomed to seeing Rafael Nadal suffocating his opponents with stinging shots and relentless pressure, winning matches and tournaments with power and panache - not least at the prestigious Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi where the Spanish sensation has lifted the trophy twice.
Only 29-years-old, Nadal has become a global icon after his 14 Grand Slam wins, 27 Masters 1000 and an Olympic gold medal and now he is ready for a return at the 2016 season's curtain-raiser in Abu Dhabi between December 31 and January 2, 2016.
After a year in which he suffered from injury, the former World No.1 is leaving 2015 behind as he aims to recapture his raison d'être - winning tournaments in emphatic, near untouchable fashion.
Speaking ahead of the tennis action in the capital, where he tops a star-studded line-up including world No.4 Stan Wawrinka, fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, Milos Raonic, Kevin Anderson and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nadal said: "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. 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."
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship is renowned for bringing the best in the tennis world to battle it out over three thrilling days of elite competition, while signifying the start of the global tennis season.
In 2014, Stan Wawrinka won the Australian Open only 25 days after the Abu Dhabi tournament, which serves as a case in point for the New Year.
For Rafael Nadal, it is a sentiment to be followed. "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, 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," Nadal said.