Injured Novak Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi comeback

Updated 30/12/2017 at 12:10 GMT

Novak Djokovic's preparation for next month's Australian Open suffered a blow after he pulled out of the season-opening exhibition event in Abu Dhabi on Friday on the advice of his medical team.

Novak Djokovic

Image credit: Getty Images

The match was set to be Djokovic's comeback after ending his season early having exited Wimbledon in the quarter-finals, thanks to an elbow injury which continues to trouble him.

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He said: “I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. I love the tournament and was really looking forward to competing in Abu Dhabi.

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"Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and after several tests, my medical team has advised me not to risk anything, to withdraw from the tournament and to immediately continue with the therapies.

"I am very sad because I was eager to return to playing official matches. Now I need to accept this situation, and to wait for the results of the therapies, in order to start playing tennis again and getting back to full rhythm."

The Australian Open gets under way on January 15, leaving the Serbian little time to recover.

However, tennis fans in Abu Dhabi will instead see British No.1 Andy Murray, who will take Djokovic's place against Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday, having arrived to train for the forthcoming Grand Slam.

Bautista Agut won his match on day one of the Championship, with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over 20-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev.

Watch Murray’s match against Roberto Bautista Agut LIVE on Eurosport 2 at 3pm

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