Rafael Nadal aims at return victory in Abu Dhabi

Spaniard has not played since Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal (GETTY IMAGES)

Rafael Nadal has set his sights on victory when he makes his return from long-term injury at the Mubadala Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month.

The Spaniard has not played competitively since his shock second-round defeat to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June, owing to a partial tear of the patellar tendon in his left knee, but has recently returned to the practice court.

"Can't wait to get back on court in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month," Nadal said today. "I won the Mubadala Championship in 2010 and 2011 – I would love to get my hands on the trophy again." Nadal is due to play either Andy Murray or the ninth-seeded Serb Janko Tipsarevic on 28 December.