MADRID: Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal will make his much-anticipated return from a knee injury at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament starting December 27, he announced via social networks on Tuesday.

“Can’t wait to get back on court in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month,” Nadal posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“I won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in 2010 and 2011 – would love to get my hands on the trophy again this year!” he added.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion started training again at the end of November, having been out of action since his shock second-round defeat at Wimbledon to Czech Lukas Rosol in June.

He was then diagnosed as suffering with Hoffa’s syndrome, an inflammation of the fatty tissue in his left knee that has sidelined him several times over the years.

The injury denied Nadal a chance to defend his Olympic singles title at the London Games and also forced him to miss the US Open and Spain’s Davis Cup final defeat to the Czech Republic.