Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal won’t be playing Saudi Arabia match after all
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s exhibition match in Saudi Arabia has been called off, but due to the Spaniard being injured.
The two players announced in early October that they would play in the Middle Eastern country on December 22, but a few weeks later they were under pressure to pull out of the event following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.
Although the pair revealed that they are keeping a close eye on things, they didn’t officially withdraw due to the political storm.
However, their hands were forced as Nadal is out injured with the 17-time Grand Slam winner forced to miss the season-ending ATP Finals in London after undergoing ankle surgery.
“Nadal is injured, so the match is not happening this year,” world No 1 Djokovic told BBC Sport.
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