Rafa’s catalogue of injury woes
Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Australian Open with a muscle tear after he played his first tournament in almost a year. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and AFP Sport looks at his history of pain.
2003: Elbow
Two years after his professional debut, Nadal experienced his first physical problems which forced him to withdraw from the French Open after picking up an elbow injury in training.
2004: Left foot
Just 18, Nadal misses the French Open and Wimbledon due to a broken bone in his foot.
2009: Knee
In June, Nadal, having already experienced a first-ever loss at the French Open, suffers tendinitis in his knees, depriving him of the opportunity to defend the Wimbledon title he had won 12 months earlier in an epic final against Roger Federer.
In September, Nadal is knocked out of the US Open semifinals, admitting to playing with an abdominal tear.
2012: Knee
Tendonitis in his left knee forces Nadal out of the Olympics, where he was the defending champion. The Spanish star also sits out the US Open due to issues with his left knee.
2014: Back
Despite a back problem, Nadal battles to the Australian Open final in January where he loses to Stan Wawrinka.
In July, a right wrist injury forces him to miss the US Open.
2016: Wrist
A left wrist injury forces Nadal to withdraw from the French Open, where he is already a nine-time champion, before the third round.
2021: Foot
In August, Nadal ends his season early due to yet more left foot problems and explains he has been suffering from Mueller-Weiss syndrome for years. This condition affects one of the bones in the foot, causing chronic pain. He has surgery in September.
2022: Rib/Foot/Abdomen
Having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals at Indian Wells, Nadal loses in the final to Taylor Fritz. He then misses several tournaments, including the Monte Carlo Masters, due to a cracked rib.
In May and June, Nadal endures searing pain in his left foot. After wrapping up a 14th French Open title – and 22nd Grand Slam crown – he reveals that he has to take “anesthetic injections before each match” to put his foot to sleep, which allows him to play.
“It’s obvious that I cannot and do not want to continue playing in these circumstances,” said Nadal.
Weeks later, Nadal has to forfeit an eagerly-anticipated Wimbledon semifinal against Nick Kyrgios after suffering an abdomen tear in a gruelling last-eight clash with Fritz.
2023: Hip
In January, Nadal loses in the Australian Open second-round and explains that he is suffering from a hip injury. He calls time on his season before undergoing surgery.
2024: Thigh
After almost a year on the sidelines, Nadal returns to action in Brisbane, reaching the last-eight where he loses to Jordan Thompson. An MRI scan reveals “a micro muscle tear” and he withdraws from the Australian Open.