Andy Murray is looking forward to making his return to competitive action following surgery at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship next week.
The reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion has not played since undergoing an operation in September on a long-standing back problem which has troubled him for around 18 months.
Murray’s proposed bid to return to tournament action last month was delayed when the Dream Cup exhibition event in Barbados was cancelled, but the world number four is now ready to test his fitness in Abu Dhabi, where he will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga first up on Boxing Day.
Murray, who has been training in Miami, said: “I’ve been training and having rehab every day and will continue to do so right up until just before Christmas when I fly to Abu Dhabi.
“Getting back to playing competitively is the next step in my preparations for the new season, which starts for me at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
“Coming back from injury is never easy and the line-up this year is so strong but it’s exactly the test I need to see where my game is at. I’m looking forward to being part of what is always a great tournament.”
Aside from Murray and Tsonga, the three-day tournament also features the world’s top three players Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer, and number eight Stanislas Wawrinka.
Murray was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday but opted to stay in Miami rather than attend the ceremony to continue his preparations for competitive action.