‘Limping All Day Long’ – ‘Sad Person’ Rafael Nadal’s Pain-Staking Journey With Anti-Inflammatories Before a Drastic Change in Personal Life

Rafael Nadal battled through his recurrent foot issue to win his 21st and 22nd Grand Slam titles; including the 14th Roland Garros title. This year has been a memorable one for the 22-time Grand Slam champion, not only due to his remarkable on-court performances but also for entering fatherhood.

Recently, during an interview, when questioned about the status of his recurring injury and his plans for the upcoming Australian Open, the defending champion answered with a Zen-like calmness; as one would expect from the Spaniard.

What did Rafael Nadal have to say about his injury? Will we see the 22-time Grand Slam champion step away from tennis in 2023?

Rafael Nadal opens up about his ‘incurable’ injury before the Australian Open

After successfully claiming the first two Grand Slams of the year, Nadal had to delay his preparations for Wimbledon. Why? Due to his recurring foot injury. The Spaniard had to resort to pulse radiofrequency injections for some respite.

So when he was asked, during his interview with Marca, whether he had to go for the same treatment again, the 22-time Grand Slam champion had this to say: “The truth is that I have done it many times after Wimbledon because the injury is incurable and when the nerve starts to hurt you have to do it again.” 

Moreover, Spaniard, is enjoying his life better despite the limp, as he detailed, “Now I am much happier, beyond winning or losing on the court, because I was suffering from a limp. I played tennis with lots and lots of anti-inflammatories but I was limping all day long. I thought I had to quit tennis because I had lost my vitality and I was a sad person most days.”

READ MORE: ‘We Are Always Ready to Find Excuses’- Rafael Nadal Says Child Birth Had Nothing to Do With His Shock Loss at Paris Masters

Last few years of the Spaniard’s tennis journey have been marked by pain. However, with the support of his doctors, family, and friends, the Spaniard has coped with his health issues. Even though we cannot predict the remaining career span of the 22-time Grand Slam champion, we can be certain, at least for now, that we would be seeing more of the 22-time Grand Slam champion back on the court in 2023.

What do you think about Rafael Nadal’s recurring foot issues? Do let us know in the comments!

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