Rafael Nadal has had a largely successful season filled with many glorious memories. From winning the Australian Open to stamping his authority as the ‘King of Clay’, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has seen it all. However, he has had his share of injury setbacks that have forced him to miss some important tournaments. During his second-round match at the US Open, he suffered an unexpected injury setback, albeit a minor one.
The Spanish legend is currently in New York to participate in the US Open. He has made a positive start, moving to the third round after a resounding win over Fabio Fognini of Italy.
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Rafael Nadal suffers a cut on his nose
During the fourth set, Nadal hit the bridge of his nose, which resulted in bleeding.
On the nose … Rafa hit the bridge of his nose and it's bleeding. He would have seen stars. pic.twitter.com/f2vtmNw28D
— Craig Gabriel (@crosscourt1) September 2, 2022
Subsequently, he received medical attention to treat the cut on his nose.
Yo, levantándome a las 14h de la tarde un domingo de resaca. pic.twitter.com/hBjVimWwcn
— Reacciones Tenis (@ReaccionesATP) September 2, 2022
However, that didn’t stop the Spaniard from continuing in the match as he went on to win the fourth set to enter the next round.
Rafa Nadal returns to action after sustaining a cut on his nose. 👏 pic.twitter.com/m6gOlcqk2K
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2022
This is not the first time this season that the former World Number 1 has showed tremendous grit and determination despite not being a 100% fit. During his Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Taylor Fritz of the United States, he suffered an abdominal injury. However, he remained on the court to display his fighting spirit and emerged victorious in that match.
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Who will Nadal face next at the US Open?
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After getting the better of Fabio Fognini, Nadal will take on France’s Richard Gasquet. The latter had earlier defeated Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia in the second round to book a date with Nadal.
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 19, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Rafael Nadal (ESP) reacts after missing a shot during a victory over Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) in their semifinal match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nadal holds an impressive record against Gasquet. The two have met 17 times on the ATP Tour, with the Spaniard prevailing on all occasions.
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The 22-time Grand Slam champion will look to shrug off his injury concerns as he steps on the court to face Gasquet. The latter will look to make the most of Nadal’s injury setback and record his maiden win over him. Overall, it’ll certainly be an interesting match!
