Rafael Nadal To Take Time Off Following Australian Open Due To Nagging Injury

Rafael Nedal will take several weeks off following the 2012 Australian Open in order to recover from a shoulder injury, according to the Associated Press.

Nadal told reporters today that he originally inured his shoulder before the ATP World Tour Finals in November. The 25-year-old star went just 1-2 at the tournament, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and archrival Roger Federer.

"I had a problem before London with my shoulder and I had to stop for about 10 days before the (ATP) finals," Nadal said Thursday in Abu Dhabi. "It felt better but again it resurfaced. In December, I did not have enough time to practice because of that."