Rafael Nadal flies to USA as No 1 Novak Djokovic prepares for Alexander Zverev showdown
RAFAEL NADAL has jetted off to Miami for some much-needed holiday time after ending his tennis season early.
Nadal was scheduled to play in the ATP Finals in London this week but withdrew from the event due to injury.
The Spaniard instead went under the knife on an ankle operation, which will hopefully mean he is fit for the start of the 2019 tennis season.
Nadal will now spend time off court while the ankle heals.
And rather than head to London to watch today’s final between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, the Spaniard is heading to the USA.
“I go a few days on vacation.... already on my way to Miami,” he wrote on Twitter, along with an image of himself on the plane.
“Now play relax in the Dreamliner of @aireuropa.”
Miami is one of the major hubs for professional tennis stars, with a number of top players including Andy Murray choosing to base themselves in the Floridian city.
Nadal is not scheduled to play again until January but will likely pick up a racket next month to begin training for the new season.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is the favourite to beat Zverev in London today and further cement his crown as world No 1.
The Serb will already finish the season as the best male player on the planet and wants an ATP Finals win to round off an excellent 2018.
Djokovic won both the Wimbledon and US Open titles this year, while Nadal collected his 17th Grand Slam in the form of the French Open crown.
Roger Federer will defend his Australian Open title in January next year - a tournament Nadal has won just once before (2009).
RAFAEL NADAL SPOTTED ON CRUTCHES
In fact, Federer may target the clay season - Nadal’s speciality - in 2019.
“With the experience I have, and my team, I think we're eager to see what we're going to work on exactly,” he said.
"Also what's the decision on the clay, seeing what's going to transpire through the vacation, what is my thoughts, all that, then taking the decision at some point in next few weeks on that.
"Yeah, so definitely the plan is to play again next year, and come up with a good schedule that suits my family, suits Mirka, me.”