Novak Djokovic: Exhibition in Saudi Arabia not happening this yearFRANK AUGSTEIN/AP Novak Djokovic has returned to the world number one ranking. Novak Djokovic says an exhibition match against Rafael Nadal in Saudi Arabia has been called off because the Spaniard underwent ankle surgery. The top-ranked Djokovic told BBC Sports on Friday that "the match is not happening this year'' because of Nadal's injury. Djokovic and Nadal had expressed doubt as to whether they would play the December 22 match as Saudi Arabia is under growing pressure from the international community following the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi after he entered Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. He was a Washington Post columnist who had written critically of Saudi Arabia's crown prince.

Source: Stuff November 10, 2018 07:07 UTC