Rafael Nadal plans lengthy absence

Rafael Nadal has said that he will take a several-week absence from tennis after the Australian Open to rest and practise.

The world number two will take the time off in February to recover from a recurring shoulder problem which he picked up at the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.

"I had a problem before London with my shoulder and I had to stop for about ten days before the [ATP] finals," the Spaniard said.

"It felt better again but resurfaced, I couldn't practise."

The 25-year-old is currently in Abu Dhabi defending his Mubadala World Tennis Championship crown and will face David Ferrer in the semi-finals tomorrow after his compatriot saw off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earlier today.