Rafael Nadal will have the chance to test his match fitness when he faces South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in Abu Dhabi.
Anderson, ranked sixth, defeated Hyeon Chung of South Korea 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
A right knee injury forced world No.2 Nadal to retire from his US Open semi-final in early September – his last competitive match – and the 32-year-old Spaniard had ankle surgery at the start of November.
On Thursday, Nadal said he was confident he can be fit in time for the Australian Open, which starts on January 14.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic will face Karen Khachanov in the other semi-final in Abu Dhabi after the Russian beat Austria’s Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
The exhibition tournament also features a one-off match between Venus and Serena Williams.