World number five Andrey Rublev is the fifth player to test positive for COVID-19 after playing at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi this month.

Spaniard Rafa Nadal, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, Switzerland's Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and Tunisian Ons Jabeur all tested positive after taking part in the event.

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U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu tested positive in Abu Dhabi before the event and withdrew, while Nadal's coach Carlos Moya also contracted the novel coronavirus.

The 24-year-old Rublev, who beat Andy Murray in the World Tennis Championship final on Dec. 18, confirmed on Twitter he was isolating with minimal symptoms.

"I am currently in Barcelona and unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19," the Russian said. "I am in isolation and following all the protocols under the supervision of doctors.

"As you know, I am fully vaccinated and was preparing for tournaments – ATP Cup and Australian Open. Now I have to recover and I will go to Melbourne only when it will be safe for everyone."

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The Australian Open will be held at Melbourne Park from Jan. 17. Rublev was part of the Russian team that won the men`s ATP Cup this year and had been included in the team for the upcoming edition in Sydney, which kicks off on Saturday.

World number five Andrey Rublev is the fifth player to test positive for COVID-19 after playing at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi this month. Spaniard Rafa Nadal, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, Switzerland's Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and Tunisian Ons Jabeur all tested positive after taking part in the event.

World number five Andrey Rublev is the fifth player to test positive for COVID-19 after playing at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi this month. Spaniard Rafa Nadal, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, Switzerland's Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and Tunisian Ons Jabeur all tested positive after taking part in the event. ALSO READ: Five-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray handed wild card entry U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu tested positive in Abu Dhabi before the event and withdrew, while Nadal's coach Carlos Moya also contracted the novel coronavirus. The 24-year-old Rublev, who beat Andy Murray in the World Tennis Championship final on Dec. 18, confirmed on Twitter he was isolating with minimal symptoms. "I am currently in Barcelona and unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19," the Russian said. "I am in isolation and following all the protocols under the supervision of doctors. "As you know, I am fully vaccinated and was preparing for tournaments – ATP Cup and Australian Open. Now I have to recover and I will go to Melbourne only when it will be safe for everyone." ALSO READ: 'Can't risk picking up further injury', Dominic Thiem withdraws from ATP Cup and Sydney ATP 250 The Australian Open will be held at Melbourne Park from Jan. 17. Rublev was part of the Russian team that won the men`s ATP Cup this year and had been included in the team for the upcoming edition in Sydney, which kicks off on Saturday.

World number 5 Andrey Rublev fifth player to test positive for COVID-19 after Abu Dhabi exhibition

Rafa Nadal is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next month before playing another tournament in his buildup to the Australian Open, the world number five said.

Nadal struggled with back issues at the start of this year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. He last competed in August at the Citi Open in Washington.

He announced ahead of the U.S. Open that the injury to his left foot would rule him out for the rest of the year but said on Monday he might return at the Dec. 16-18 Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event.

"My plan is to play Abu Dhabi in December and a tournament before playing the Australian Open. It is my goal and we are working hard to make it that way," Nadal said at a sponsor event in Paris.

"I don`t know exactly when I`ll be back, but I can say that my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December, and then, of course, for the start of the new season in January.

"The injury in my foot still needs to get a little better, but I`m already training almost an hour and a half a day so that`s positive."

World number 12 Dominic Thiem, who has not played since suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open in June, will also return to competitive tennis in Abu Dhabi.

Organisers confirmed the 2020 U.S. Open champion`s participation with Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov, Emma Raducanu and Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic also named for the event.

Nadal will be bidding for a men`s record 21st major title at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on Jan. 17.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has said no unvaccinated players would be permitted to play despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling local media they could compete but only after undergoing a 14-day quarantine.

Rafa Nadal is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next month before playing another tournament in his buildup to the Australian Open, the world number five said.

Rafa Nadal is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next month before playing another tournament in his buildup to the Australian Open, the world number five said. Nadal struggled with back issues at the start of this year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. He last competed in August at the Citi Open in Washington. He announced ahead of the U.S. Open that the injury to his left foot would rule him out for the rest of the year but said on Monday he might return at the Dec. 16-18 Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event. "My plan is to play Abu Dhabi in December and a tournament before playing the Australian Open. It is my goal and we are working hard to make it that way," Nadal said at a sponsor event in Paris. "I don`t know exactly when I`ll be back, but I can say that my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December, and then, of course, for the start of the new season in January. "The injury in my foot still needs to get a little better, but I`m already training almost an hour and a half a day so that`s positive." World number 12 Dominic Thiem, who has not played since suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open in June, will also return to competitive tennis in Abu Dhabi. Organisers confirmed the 2020 U.S. Open champion`s participation with Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov, Emma Raducanu and Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic also named for the event. Nadal will be bidding for a men`s record 21st major title at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on Jan. 17. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has said no unvaccinated players would be permitted to play despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling local media they could compete but only after undergoing a 14-day quarantine.

Rafael Nadal plans to return at Abu Dhabi exhibition next month

South African Tennis player Kevin Anderson won the 10th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Saturday.&nbsp;

Anderson was in imperious form as he defeated Spain&#39;s world number 20 Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in the final at the International Tennis Center at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

With this achievement, the 2017 US Open runner-up has thus become only the fourth player after Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win the title.

&quot;It feels great to win a tournament that has been played for 10 years and has such great champions in the past,&quot; Anderson said.

&quot;I have set big goals for myself and this is a good start towards that. I can definitely take the confidence from here to my next few tournaments,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

The world number 14 played three matches in the six-man exhibition tournament and won all of them in straight sets. 
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Anderson was in imperious form as he defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in the final

South African Tennis player Kevin Anderson won the 10th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Saturday. Anderson was in imperious form as he defeated Spain's world number 20 Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in the final at the International Tennis Center at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. With this achievement, the 2017 US Open runner-up has thus become only the fourth player after Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win the title. "It feels great to win a tournament that has been played for 10 years and has such great champions in the past," Anderson said. "I have set big goals for myself and this is a good start towards that. I can definitely take the confidence from here to my next few tournaments," he added. The world number 14 played three matches in the six-man exhibition tournament and won all of them in straight sets.

Tennis player Kevin Anderson wins Abu Dhabi exhibition