Novak Djokovic much-awaited comeback after a six-month injury layoff was delayed after the former world No 1 withdrew from Mubadala world championships on Friday. He pulled out of the Abu Dhabi exhibition event on the advice of his medical team, according to a statement on his website.

In a surprise replacement, former world No 1 Andy Murray, who is also coming off a similarly long injury layoff, is set to step in and play the exhibition match against Roberto Bautista Agut later on Friday.

Murray has been sidelined since July when he was beaten by Sam Querrey in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. That loss was caused largely by Murray’s problems with a hip injury and he missed the US Open as a result of his fitness struggles.

The three-time major winner originally planned to make his comeback at the Brisbane tournament which starts on New Year’s Eve.

“I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and after several tests, my medical team has advised me not to risk anything, to withdraw from the tournament and to immediately continue with the therapies,” Djokovic said in his statement.

“I am very sad because I was eager to return to playing official matches. I enjoyed the practices and everything I did to get ready for the start of the season, including the tournament in Abu Dhabi, where I always enjoy playing. Now I need to accept this situation, and to wait for the results of the therapies, in order to start playing tennis again and getting back to full rhythm. This might affect the start of the season and the tournament plan, but the decision will be made in the following days,” the Serbian added.