Rafa rejects offers to play in minor tourneys

Still hoping he will recover form in time for Australian Open

RAFAEL NADAL will remain in the Gulf for a few days next week in the hope of whipping his tennis into shape, with the Spaniard turning down wild card entries for pre-Australian Open ATP events in Sydney and Auckland.

Nadal lost in the Doha ATP first round this week to German journeyman Michael Berrer, but is playing doubles in his first official tournament of the 2015 season with good friend Juan Monaco.

Both southern hemisphere events announced they would grant world No 3 Nadal free entry into their tournaments – but Nadal has knocked them both back.

“I’m a guy who listens and tries to do the things that the people believe that are better for me, but Auckland or Sydney for me today is not in my mind,” said Nadal.

Nadal has twice played in Auckland – albeit in his younger days – reaching the final 11 years ago and losing in the first round the following January.

“While we are naturally disappointed, I am very proud of our efforts over the last 36 hours,” said New Zealand tournament director Karl Budge. “We presented an outstanding case to Rafa.

“It is a great sign for how far the tournaments have grown that there is disappointment we have not been able to pull this off. We believe we are now in a position where these sorts of players are a real possibility, and we remain optimistic of chasing such players in 2016.”

Budge had also come up short in trying to attract Andy Murray across the Tasman for the upcoming edition, with the Scot playing the Hopman Cup in Perth and training privately next week in Melbourne Park for the January 19 start of the Australian Open.

Auckland has been a happy hunting ground for Spaniards over the years, with David Ferrer winning three of the last four editions.

Ferrer told local media that he is optimistic that his famed compatriot can make a comeback after a season on injuries and an appendix removal.

“It’s only one month after Rafa’s surgeries. We are beginning the season, and what happened in Abu Dhabi and Doha is not important. Rafael sure is going to be good in the Australian Open. I saw the match, and he began playing very well, so I am sure that he will be strong the next couple of weeks.” – Sapa-dpa

WON’T PLAY: Rafael Nadal in action during the the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

10.30am MONDAY Cricket KFC Big Bash Twenty20, Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder, 10.05am on SS2 Golf PGA Tour, Hyundai Tournament Of Champions Day 4, 11pm on CSN & SS1 Soccer FIFA Ballon D'Or Gala, 7.30pm on Maximo & SS3 Tennis ATP World Tour 250, Heineken Open Round 1, 1am on SS6 One Night With Roger Federer And Lleyton Hewitt (On SS6): Legends Doubles, 9.30am; Roger Federer v Leyton Hewitt, TUESDAY Cricket KFC Big Bash Twenty20, Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat, 10.05am on SS2 Tennis ATP World Tour 250, Heineken Open Round 2, 1am on SS6 WEDNESDAY Basketball NCAA College Basketball, Kentucky Wildcats v Missouri Tigers, 4am on SS9 Cricket KFC Big Bash Twenty20: Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers, 10.05am on SS2 South Africa v West Indies 3rd T20, 5.30pm on SS2 & CSN Tennis ATP World Tour 250, Heineken Open Round 3 , 1am on SS6 WTA, Apia International Sydney (On SS5): Qf 2, 8am; Qf 3, 10am Rafa's Summer Set, Rafael Nadal v Omar Jasika, Mark Phillippoussis And Fernando Verdasco, 10am on SS6 THURSDAY Basketball NBA: Portland Trail Blazers v L.A Clippers, 5.20am on SS9, SS5 & Maximo Milwaukee Bucks v New York Knicks, 9.50pm on SS7 & Maximo Cricket New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI, 2.45am on SS2 KFC Big Bash Twenty20, Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, 10.30am on SS5 and 11am on SS2 Golf European Tour, Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Day 1 (On SS1)- Am, 7.30am; Pm, 12pm Latin America Amateur Championship, Day 1, 8pm on SS6 Tennis ATP World Tour 250, Heineken Open (On SS6): Qf 1, 1am; Qf 2, 3am; Qf 3, 5am; QF4, 7.30am ATP World Tour 250, Apia International Sydney 1st Qf, 6.30am on SS7; 2nd Qf, 11am on SS6

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