Nadal plans to return in late December exhibition

Rafael Nadal plans to return from a knee injury at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament in December.

Organizers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship said on Tuesday in a statement that Nadal is set to join a field including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and David Ferrer.

The tournament runs from Dec. 27-29.

Nadal hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June. He is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion said last month he had no timetable for his return and was targeting the Australian Open in January for his return to competitive tennis.