Rafael Nadal plans to take several weeks off after the Australian Open to recover from a nagging shoulder injury.
The second-ranked Nadal said Thursday the injury surfaced before the ATP World Tour Finals in November and that he was still “not 100 percent.” He only decided three days ago to defend his title at the World Tennis Championships, a two-day exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.

“I had a problem before London with my shoulder and I had to stop for about 10 days before the (ATP) finals,” Nadal said Thursday in Abu Dhabi. “It felt better but again it resurfaced. In December, I did not have enough time to practice because of that.”