Pain game: Rafael Nadal receives medical treatment during his match against Australia's Jordan Thompson in Brisbane (Patrick HAMILTON) |
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday withdrew from the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters, abandoning plans to make his comeback after barely playing in 2023 and making only one tournament appearance this year in January.
The 22-time Grand Slam title winner has been plagued by
injuries throughout his career, including missing 11 majors through a series of
knee, feet, ankle, abdomen and wrist problems.
AFP Sport looks at Nadal's history of pain:
2003: Elbow
Two years after his professional debut, Nadal experienced
his first physical problems which forced him to withdraw from the French Open
after picking up an elbow injury in training.
2004: Left foot
Just 18, Nadal misses the French Open and Wimbledon due to a
broken bone in his foot.
2009: Knee
In June, Nadal, having already experienced a first ever loss
at the French Open, suffers tendinitis in his knees, depriving him of the
opportunity to defend the Wimbledon title he had won 12 months earlier in an
epic final against Roger Federer.
In September, Nadal is knocked out of the US Open
semi-finals admitting to playing with an abdominal tear.
2012: Knee
Tendonitis in his left knee forces Nadal out of the Olympics
where he was the defending champion. The Spanish star also sits out the US Open
due to issues with his left knee.
2014: Back
Despite a back problem, Nadal battles to the Australian Open
final in January where he loses to Stan Wawrinka.
In July, a right wrist injury forces him to miss the US
Open.
2016: Wrist
A left wrist injury forces Nadal to withdraw from the French
Open, where he is already a nine-time champion, before the third round.
2021: Foot
In August, Nadal ends his season early due to yet more left
foot problems and explains he has been suffering from Mueller-Weiss syndrome
for years. This condition affects one of the bones in the foot, causing chronic
pain. He has surgery in September.
2022: Rib/Foot/Abdomen
Having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Indian
Wells, Nadal loses in the final to Taylor Fritz. He then misses several
tournaments including the Monte Carlo Masters due to a cracked rib.
In May and June, Nadal endures searing pain in his left
foot. After wrapping up a 14th French Open title - and 22nd Grand Slam crown -
he reveals that he has to take "anesthetic injections before each
match" to put his foot to sleep which allows him to play.
"It's obvious that I cannot and do not want to continue
playing in these circumstances," said Nadal.
Weeks later, Nadal has to forfeit an eagerly-anticipated
Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios after suffering an abdomen tear in a
gruelling last-eight clash with Fritz.
2023: Hip
In January, Nadal loses in the Australian Open second round
and explains that he is suffering from a hip injury. He predicted an absence
from the tour of 6-8 weeks, but eventually calls time on his season before
undergoing surgery.
2024: Thigh
After almost a year on the sidelines, Nadal returns to
action in Brisbane, reaching the last-eight where he loses to Jordan Thompson.
He feels a pain in his left thigh and an MRI scan reveals "a micro muscle
tear". He withdraws from the Australian Open and returns to Spain to
consult his medical team.
After playing an exhibition game against Carlos Alcaraz in
Las Vegas, Nadal withdraws from his planned ATP Tour comeback at Indian Wells,
saying he is not ready to return.
0 comments:
Post a Comment