Toni Nadal on Rafael Nadal’s top-10 exit: Injuries, he knew this was going to happen

Toni Nadal says exiting the top-10 is not something that is worrying Rafael Nadal too much.

At the Australian Open, Nadal – who was hampered by a hip injury – failed to defend his title after suffering a second-round loss.

Nadal hasn’t played since then and losing ranking points resulted in him exiting the top-10 for the first time since 2005.

“He is aware that to be in the top ten you have to play constantly. He knew this was going to happen. It’s not a thing that worries him too much either. The important thing is that when he goes out to play he feels convinced that he can win and is on the way to achieve it, knowing that things every year are more difficult,” Toni Nadal told MARCA Sport.

Nadal said his stunning run was ‘a miracle’

On April 25th, 2005, Nadal entered the top-10 for the first time in his career.

On March 20th, Nadal exited the top-10 for the first time in 18 years.

When Nadal announced his withdrawal from Indian Wells and Miami, he knew that meant a top-10 exit. 

But Nadal wasn’t negative about it, explaining how special it was to stay ranked inside the top-10 without ever leaving for 18 years. 

“I prefer to be in the top-10, it’s obvious, but in the end one has to accept things as they come. With all the injuries I’ve had over the last 18 years, not having left the top-10 at any occasion is practically a miracle. A time has come when a lot has happened in the last year: a broken rib, two abdominal tears, now hip, foot problems, there are many things that, in tennis, with a ranking that lasts a year, you know if you don’t play, you’re out of the top-10,” Nadal said earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Nadal is expected to return to action at the Monte Carlo Masters.