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The world's former number one tennis player, Rafael Nadal, recently lost on clay. That alone sounds wrong. Nadal was upset by 19-year-old rising phenom Carlos Alcaraz, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, in the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open. The future Hall of Fame tennis player has openly talked about aging, but now is acknowledging having to play through pain.
Nadal spoke at a press conference where he detailed battling through injury on the court, captured by Racquet Magazine senior editor Ben Rothenberg.
Nadal made clear that he wasn’t able to play to his abilities as that match slipped away from him.
Road ahead is murky between now and French Open, he said; pain caused by foot injury isn’t predictable day-to-day for him at this stage.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 12, 2022
“I am not injured… I am a player living with an injury, that's it… my day by day is difficult, honestly… of course it's difficult for me to accept sometimes.”
Rafael Nadal referenced how he was unable to play at the best of his abilities in the match against Alcaraz. Just prior to that match, Nadal discussed the chronic condition that he deals with on an everyday basis.
“If you saw me on a daily basis, you would not be worried because I limp on many days of my life… But I have a chronic foot injury which has no treatment. That’s part of my life,” Nadal said.
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Nadal is 35 years old, playing in what typically has been a young man's game. But Nadal, along with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have changed the sport forever. Since Federer won his first Grand Slam in 2003, the three men have won 61 of the 74 Grand Slam championships. That's truly remarkable considering the longevity of their careers.
Nadal has won the most Grand Slam titles all time, with 21. Both Federer and Djokovic are one behind with 20 to their name. As the 2022 French Open looms, one wonders how much this foot condition will play a factor in Nadal's ability to win his 14th title at Roland Garros.
