Rafa begins new season with a title

Rafael Nadal will head to Australia full of confidence after kicking off his season with a title in Abu Dhabi.

Nadal defeated David Goffin in the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event, overcoming the Belgian 6-4 7-6(5) on the last day of 2016.

The Spaniard next heads to the Brisbane International, where he’ll be part of a stellar men’s field that features five of the world’s top 10.

He will use the Brisbane event as further preparation for the Australian Open, desperate for more matches as he returns from a near three-month absence due to a wrist injury.

“I’m very happy to be competing again. These three days have been very good for me,” said Nadal, who also beat Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic en route to the title.

“These three days, playing at this level, bode very well for the rest of the season.

“I played three matches against three top players, and to win against these kind of players is not possible if you’re not playing well.

“So these three victories were really positive news. It was also pleasing to see that when I’m able to hit my forehand with confidence, the matches are going the way I want them to.

“I have worked a lot to try to put myself in a position to be competitive again and to try to make the fans enjoy my tennis again, so I will do my best to make that happen.”