World No.3 Rafael Nadal has declared himself fit to compete at the Australian Open next month after having his appendix removed.

The 14-time Grand Slam winner had an injury-plagued year and was diagnosed with appendicitis in October before undergoing surgery in November.

Nadal, the 2009 Melbourne champion, took to social media to post on his Facebook page that he has been training for the first Grand Slam of next year with Frenchman Richard Gasquet and his coach Sergi Bruguera.

Nadal wrote: "Training hard this week with Richard Gasquet and his trainer, Sergi Bruguera!"

No problems

"The operation on my appendix was good. No problems at all. I am able to practice for a lot of hours at a high intensity. After five months of pain, that's important to me," he said.

"The main thing for me is I am able to work hard in these next weeks. I am sure the level of intensity and level of competition will be helpful for me.

"I will try to spend as much time on court as possible. Every match that I have the opportunity to play is important."

Nadal's last competitive outing was a straight-sets loss to Croatia's Borna Coric in Basel during October.

The Australian Open will take place from January 19 to February 1. Nadal will play in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi and an ATP tournament in Doha in January to warm up for the Open.

He will also face 1998 US Open and 2003 Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis, US Open junior singles and doubles champion Omar Jasika and fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in charity exhibition matches on the Wednesday prior to the start of the Open at Melbourne Park.