Rafael Nadal has won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Abu Dhabi with the next stop Brisbane in his build up to the Australian Open.
Nadal defeated Belgian world No.11 David Goffin 6-4 7-6, winning the exhibition tournament for a fourth time.
The 30-year-old, who jumped straight on a plane to Australia after the win to play at the Brisbane International, called time on his 2016 season in October to focus on rehabilitating a left wrist injury.
“I’m very happy to be competing again. These three days have been very good for me. These three days, playing at this level, bode very well for the rest of the season,” said the Spaniard.
In the earlier match, world No.1 Andy Murray defeated Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-3 7-6 (8-6) to claim third place.
World No.9 Nadal, in his maiden Brisbane appearance, has a tricky opening encounter against Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov on Monday at the Brisbane International.