Comeback delays

Former world No 1 Andy Murray and fellow three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka have not played since Wimbledon - Murray suffered a hip injury while Wawrinka required two knee operations.

Murray has delayed his departure to Australia while Swiss star Wawrinka joined Nadal in pulling out of the UAE event.

Novak Djokovic will play in Abu Dhabi as the former world No 1 and 12-time Grand Slam winner makes his return having last played at Wimbledon where he picked up a season-ending wrist injury.

Djokovic is now ranked 12th in the world, Murray is at 16 while Wawrinka starts 2018 at nine.

"I wouldn't be surprised if 2018 worked out for them as well like it worked out for me and Rafa," predicted Federer.

The new year could also see the highly regarded Alexander Zverev make a Slam breakthrough after a 2017 which saw him win five titles.

However, the beanpole German had a roller-coaster year at the Slams - a last-16 spot at Wimbledon punctuated by a first-round loss in Australia, a second-round exit in New York and a third-round defeat to Nadal in Australia.

On the women's circuit, Serena Williams started the year with an Open-era record 23rd Slam triumph in Melbourne.

The achievement was made even more remarkable when the American star revealed she had won the title while pregnant.