Fernando will be withdrawing from an exhibition in Abu Dhabi that was set for the new year. He was intending to play the three-day, six-man Capitala World Tennis Championship that is due to be held from December 31, 2009 – January 2, 2010, but is withdrawing from the tournament to take care of his foot injury. He will likely be getting foot surgery shortly after the Davis Cup final, and will need at least the rest of the month to recover and get back to training.

“Unfortunately, I have decided – in conjunction with my coaches – that I need to make several adjustments to my schedule for the beginning of 2010. Throughout the year I have suffered from a foot injury for which I was to have surgery after the US Open. My doctors advised me to reconsider the surgery and to make a decision after the Davis Cup Finals. Regardless of whether or not I have the surgery, I will need to take a significant time of rest and thus I will not be able to participate in the tournament.”

Nando is begin replaced in the exhibition by Stanislas Wawrinka. No word yet on whether it will affect his participation in the exhibition in Kooyong which starts January 13.

(via UAE Today)