Rafael Nadal pulls out of Australian Open

Eleven-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has been forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to illness.

The Spaniard has not set foot on court since his shock defeat to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June because of tendinitis in his knee.

Nadal had targeted a return to action at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships - currently being contested in Abu Dhabi - but had to pull out due to a stomach virus.

As a result, the 26-year-old - victorious in Melbourne back in 2009 - will now miss his second Grand Slam tournament in a row.

"My knee much better. Rehab has gone well as predicted by the doctors, but this virus did not allow me to practice this past week," read a statement.

"Therefore I am sorry to announce that I will not play in Doha and the Australian Open, as we had initially scheduled.

"This virus has delayed my plans of playing these weeks. Will have to wait until the Acapulco tournament to compete."

The Australian Open gets underway on January 14.