Nadal’s major injury woes
His physical game, th e explosive, run-every-ball-down approach o n court wa s always considered a risk to longevity. But despite a series of injuries over the years, Nadal keeps coming back
2003
A 16-year-old Nadal misses the French Open after hurting his left elbow during training. His much-awaited Grand Slam debut instead comes at the Wimbledon the same year.
2006
Misses the Australian Open with an injury in his left foot. Uncle Toni Nadal, his coach at the time, says the southpaw has been affected by the same problem since 2005. Returns to the tour in February.
2007
Takes a month-long break after the US Open. It comes to light that he had been battling a left-knee injury after the Wimbledon final. Fears of the long-term repercussions of the foot injury surface when Toni labels the injury as "serious". Nadal denies it.
2009
After a fourth-round exit from the French Open, Nadal withdraws from the Big W as defending champion, citing the failure to recover from the tendinitis in both his knees, saying it’s not career-threatening.
2011
Suffers a left-hamstring injury against David Ferrer in their Australian Open quarter-final, losing in straight sets and with it a shot at holding four Grand Slam titles in a row. Returns to play the Davis Cup after a month.
2012
After losing to Lukas Rosol in the 2nd round of Wimbledon, pulls out of the 2012 Olympics due to tendinitis in his left knee. Forced to withdraw from the rest of the 2012 season. Misses the 2013 Australian Open too citing a “stomach virus”, playing his first tournament only in February.
2014
Withdraws from the American swing post Wimbledon due to a right-wrist injury. Returns after three months but is soon diagnosed with appendicitis. Tries to play a couple of tournaments with it, but shuts his season in October to undergo appendix surgery.
2016
After two wins at the French Open, a gutted Nadal pulls out citing a left-wrist injury he suffered at the Madrid Open. Says playing the Roland Garros “almost destroyed my wrist”. Misses Wimbledon but plays the Rio Olympics before ending his season again in October to give time for his wrist to heal.
2018
Retires from Australian Open quarters with a hip injury before returning for the Davis Cup in April. In a rare second mid-match Slam retirement, pulls the plug after the second set of the US Open semis due to a knee injury. An abdominal injury follows and his season is over.
2021
Loses to Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals. Playing the Citi Open next, Nadal reveals recurring pain in his left foot. In August, he announces the end of the season due to the issue.