INTERNATIONAL: One of the world’s most popular tennis player, Rafael Nadal said on Monday he had tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Spain, after making his comeback from injury in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week.

The 20-times Grand Slam champion said he was having some "unpleasant moments" but was hoping to feel better soon and would keep people informed about his plans over future tournaments.

The 35-year-old said he had tested negative at all times when he was in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, and had last tested negative on Friday last week.

The Spaniard's comeback from injury at the exhibition event -- his first tournament appearance since the Citi Open in Washington in

August -- ended in two close defeats by Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov.

Nadal has also written he is having some unpleasant moments but hopes that he will improve little by little. He has added he is homebound and have reported the result to those who have been in contact with him.

The tennis player has also stated that, as a result of the situation he will have total flexibility with his calendar and will analyse the options depending on his evolution. He has also assured he will keep informed of any decisions about his future tournaments.

Nadal spent four months on the sidelines with a foot injury. He was knocked out at Roland Garros in the semi-finals and was forced to pull out of Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics and the U.S. Open. He had said he could not guarantee he would make the trip for the Australian Open, which begins on Jan. 

^{PHOTO: INSTAGRAM STATEMENT FROM RAFAEL NADAL / FILE FOOTAGE OF RAFA NADAL AS HE TEST POSTIVE FOR COVID-19 / STILL IMAGES OF RAFA NADAL COMPETING IN ABU DHABI AT THE MUBADALA WORLD TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP EXHIBITION EVENT}