A 22-time Major winner Rafael Nadal is back on the practice court! The Spaniard trained on Monday at home in Mallorca, leaving the last week’s setback behind and giving another try in his battle against time. Rafa last played in January, injuring his left hip at the Australian Open and skipping four months and eight tournaments!
Nadal has been struggling to take the pain away and train injury-free. The Spaniard ended his training session earlier last week due to the pain, and he is back on the practice court, trying his best to recover and compete at Roland Garros.
Nadal is a 14-time Roland Garros champion, suffering only three losses in Paris since 2005 and dominating like no one before him at a single Major. Rafa never missed Roland Garros after his debut 18 years ago, and it could happen in a couple of weeks if he fails to recover.
The Spaniard recently withdrew from the Rome Masters, extending his break from tennis and his misery.
Rafael Nadal is trying his best to recover for Roland Garros.
If the king of clay misses his beloved Major, he will have only 445 ATP points after Roland Garros, far from enough to stay in the top-100!
Nadal struggled with injuries in 2022 and still conquered the opening two Majors for the first time in a career. Rafa led the ATP Race and had a great chance to become world no. 1 for the rest of the season. Instead, the Spaniard experienced an abdominal tear at Wimbledon that ruined his progress.
Nadal withdrew ahead of the semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios, and we are yet to see him at that level again. Rafa has played only 13 matches since last August, never finding the rhythm and facing more disappointments. Nadal is still ranked in the top-20 thanks to those 2000 ATP points for the Roland Garros title, but that can all change in a couple of weeks if he fails to recover and bring his A-game.
Rafa made a slow start to the current season and entered the Australian Open with no confidence after two United Cup losses. He experienced a severe hip injury against Mackenzie McDonald in the second round and lost the title in the worst way.
The Spaniard revealed a Grade 2 iliopsoas that should have kept him away from the court for two months. Instead, a 22-time Major champion is yet to recover, losing ground and experiencing one of the worst periods of his incredible career.
#RafaelNadal au travail ce matin pic.twitter.com/TIJJqVeAdF — Fresnel Aline (@FresnelAline) May 15, 2023
