Rafael Nadal underwent surgery on Friday night in Barcelona, checking his left psoas muscle that has kept him out of competition since the Australian Open. On Saturday, on his 37th birthday, Nadal shared the positive news with his fans, as everything went well! Rafa will start the immediate recovery process and should be injury-free in five months. Nadal thanked the doctors who underwent surgery and his fans for their incredible support during the previous four months. The Spaniard has been sidelined for four months, injuring his left hip at the Australian Open and failing to recover for the clay swing.
The veteran skipped nine tournaments, including his beloved Roland Garros for the first time since 2004, and will leave the top-100 in ten days for the first time since 2003! Despite constant setbacks, Nadal was a Major contender for five years from 2017, passing Roger Federer and standing on 22 titles after the last year’s Roland Garros. The veteran led the ATP Race in June after conquering the Australian Open and Roland Garros for the first time in the same season, collecting 22 Majors and looking good to become world no. 1 at 36! Instead, Rafa experienced an abdominal injury at Wimbledon and withdrew ahead of the semi-final. Nadal revealed a seven-millimeter abdominal tear and never reached that level again.
Rafael Nadal underwent surgery on his hip on Friday night, and everything went well.
The Spaniard competed at the US Open with the pain and lost in the fourth round. Nadal could not find the rhythm in November after an extended break, losing four consecutive matches for the first time in 13 years! Rafa embraced an off-season with hopes for a fresh start in 2023. Instead, he has played only four encounters this year, scoring one victory and sealing his fate in the top-10 after Indian Wells. Not feeling at his best, Rafa gave everything while seeking the Australian Open title defense in January. He overpowered Jack Draper in the first round and faced Mackenzie McDonald in the second.
The American scored a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 triumph and delivered the Spaniard’s earliest loss at Majors since 2016. Rafa injured his left hip in the second set’s closing stages, refusing to retire and giving his 120% in the third. However, he suffered a late break to propel the rival over the top. Nadal revealed a Grade 2 iliopsoas injury that will ruin the finishing stages of his incredible career. Rafa plans to embrace his final run in 2024, returning to the events he likes and terminating his glorious tennis journey on his terms. The surgery will help him achieve those plans, as a grand champion deserves one more dance on the court after giving so much to tennis.
“Hello, everyone. As you know, last night I had surgery. Everything went well, and the arthroscopy was on the left psoas tendon, which has kept me out of competition since January. An old injury to the labrum of my left hip was also regularized, which will surely help the better evolution of the tendon. I want to thank doctors Marc Philippon, Jaume Vilaró and Angel Ruiz-Cotorro for their work. I will start progressive functional rehabilitation immediately, and the expected recovery process they tell me is five months if all goes well. Once again, thank you for all the support you have shown me and that you show me every day. Today is also my birthday. Not in the desired or dreamed place, although I thank You anyway,” Rafael Nadal said.
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