Illness Pushes Back Rafael Nadal's Return to Tennis

It's been nearly seven months since former No. 1 men's tennis player Rafael Nadal played tennis professionally, and it looks like his return to the court has been delayed further.

Nadal was scheduled to participate in a tournament in Abu Dhabi this week but has been forced to withdraw — not because of the knee injury that has plagued him since June, but because of a stomach virus.

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"My rehab has gone well, my knee feels good and I was looking forward to competing," Nadal posted on his Facebook page. "Unfortunately doctors have informed me that my body needs to rest in order to fight this stomach virus."

Earlier in the year, tendinitis in his left knee forced the Spaniard to pull out of a slew of other competitions, including London's Summer Olympics and the U.S. Open in September.