Through a World of Anguish: Rafael Nadal’s Prolonged Struggle With Injuries
Rafael Nadal withdrew from the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday, abandoning his ambitions to return to competition following a largely inactive 2023 and a solitary event performance in January of this year.
Throughout his career, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has struggled with injuries. He has missed 11 majors due to issues with his knee, feet, ankles, tummy, and wrists.
Our sports bureau examines Nadal’s past medical history:
2003: Elbow – Nadal had an elbow injury during training, forcing him to withdraw from the French Open two years after making his professional debut due to his initial physical issues.
2004: The left foot Nadal, who is only eighteen, will miss Wimbledon and the French Open because of a broken foot bone.
2009: Knee — In June, after losing his first-ever match at the French Open, Rafael Nadal develops tendinitis in his knees, which prevents him from playing in the Wimbledon final that he had won twelve months previously in a thrilling match against Roger Federer.
Having acknowledged that he was playing with an abdominal tear, Rafael Nadal gets eliminated from the US Open semifinals in September.
2012: Knee — The reigning champion Rafael Nadal is forced to miss the Olympics due to tendinitis in his left knee. The Spanish player’s left knee problems also prevent him from competing in the US Open.
2014: Returning — Nadal fights through a back issue to reach the Australian Open final in January, when he falls to Stan Wawrinka.
A right wrist injury keeps him out of the US Open in July.
2016: Wrist – Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal is forced to withdraw from the French Open before the third round due to a left wrist injury.
2021: Foot — In August, Rafael Nadal announces he has been dealing with Mueller-Weiss syndrome for years and announces he is ending his season early due to more left foot issues. Chronic discomfort results from this ailment, which affects one of the foot’s bones. In September, he will undergo surgery.
2022: Rib/Foot/Abdomen – Taylor Fritz defeats Rafael Nadal in the Indian Wells final after Nadal overcame Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. After that, a fractured rib prevents him from competing in multiple events, including the Monte Carlo Masters.
Nadal experiences excruciating pain in his left foot in May and June. Following his 22nd Grand Slam victory and 14th French Open victory, he says he needs to have “anesthetic injections before each match” in order to put his foot to sleep so he can play.
Nadal declared, “It’s evident that I cannot and do not want to continue playing in these circumstances.”
A few weeks later, Nadal tears his abdomen in a tough match against Fritz in the last eight, which forces him to miss the much-anticipated Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios.
2023: Hip – Nadal announces his hip ailment after losing in the second round of the Australian Open in January. He called off his season before having surgery, despite having stated that he would be out of commission for six to eight weeks throughout the tour.
2024: Thigh — Nadal makes a comeback to the game in Brisbane after nearly a year off, but he falls to Jordan Thompson in the last eight. He experiences left thigh pain, and an MRI finds “a tiny muscle rupture.” He leaves the Australian Open and heads back to Spain to speak with his medical staff.
— Rafael Nadal cancels his scheduled ATP Tour comeback at Indian Wells, citing lack of readiness, following an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas.
