Djokovic-Nadal exhibition called off

Novak Djokovic said Friday an exhibition match against Rafael Nadal in Saudi Arabia has been called off because Nadal underwent ankle surgery.

Djokovic and Nadal had expressed doubt as to whether they would play the Dec. 22 match as Saudi Arabia is under growing pressure from the international community following the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi after he entered Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

He was a Washington Post columnist who had written critically of Saudi Arabia's crown prince.

Amnesty International had urged Nadal and Djokovic not to play.