MELBOURNE, Australia - Rafael Nadal says hes working as hard as I can to be ready for Mondays start to the Australian Open following a right wrist injury and appendix surgery which sidelined him for most of the last six months of 2014.Nadal went through a strenuous workout at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, followed by a two-hour exhibition match against Mark Philippoussis and Fernando Verdasco as part of a charity night to open the renovated Margaret Court Arena, the Australian Opens third court with a retractable roof.On Thursday, Nadal said he recovered well from the tough day of workouts, but added it would be difficult to quickly reach the level of fitness to win the title this yearIm back, and Im healthy, but its hard to come back after such injures, Nadal said. I will hope for first round, second round, and take the wins as they come.Nadal was knocked out in the first round in a tournament at Doha two weeks ago by a qualifier, but then teamed with good friend, Juan Monaco of Argentina, to win the doubles final, giving him some valuable court time.To start the season with a title, even if its only in doubles, is a great feeling, the 14-time Grand Slam champion said in Doha. When you lose early in singles its a good way to still be in competition. A win is always a good feeling and to have that feeling again was very positive.Nadal had played only eight singles matches since Wimbledon before arriving in Doha.It was an important week because I came back to the tour after a long time not being competitive, Nadal said. I lost in the first round in a match that can happen.Im going to work hard to be ready for Australia but if that doesnt happen Im going to keep working hard to be ready for Rio, then Buenos Aires and Indian Wells and Miami.The third-seeded Nadal will find out on Friday who will be play in the first round when the tournament draw is held.___Freelancer Sandra Harwitt contributed to this story. Houston Astros Jerseys . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. Carlos Beltran Jersey . Rajne Soderberg, the director of the Stockholm Diamond League event, said in an email Friday that the ban still holds. 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Ellis have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract.David Poile earned a chance to be general manager of the U.S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey.Since last summer, he spent countless hours trying to shape a roster that would give the Americans a shot to win Olympic gold for the first time since he witnessed whats known as the "Miracle on Ice," in 1980.Poile, though, wont be at the Sochi Games to see the team he helped set up.The Nashville Predators GM and former Washington Capitals executive was hit in the face by a deflected puck during an NHL game last week, a freak accident that will force him to watch the U.S. go for gold on TV from his home in Tennessee."Serving as GM of the U.S. Olympic Team has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I am forever grateful to USA Hockey," Poile said Monday in a statement from the Predators. "However, it is not possible for me to travel at this time, but I will remain in contact with Ray Shero, Brian Burke, Jim Johansson and our coaching staff during the games."Team USA is in great hands and I will be there in spirit. I wish all the best for our players, coaches and entire group as they begin play in the 2014 Olympics and go for the gold."Poile is recovering from surgery and stitches he needed after the puuck hit him while he was standing in a tunnel behind the Predators bench in Minnesota.dddddddddddd"I first want to thank everyone who has reached out to me since suffering this injury," Poile said. "The outpouring of support and comfort has been overwhelming."He led a selection committee that picked the Olympic team after months of work, and his role during the 12-day tournament would have been largely behind the scenes in a supporting role."To hear that he had been hurt and to know that hes not going to be coming over is a huge disappointment," U.S. coach Dan Bylsma said.Shero, who is general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be acting GM in Sochi."Having worked with Dave for eight years in Nashville, and knowing, as I told the team, how much passion, time and effort he has put into putting this team together, its disappointing," Shero said.Poile won the Lester Patrick award in 2001 for his contributions to hockey in the U.S., and is a three-time finalist for NHL GM of the year. He has also filled various roles with USA Hockey.He was the associate GM for the U.S. at the Olympics four years ago, when he assisted Burke after he dealt with tragedy. 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