Nadal has new injury concerns
AMERICAN FRITZ SNAPS WINNING STREAK
Rafael Nadal is facing renewed injury concerns after his 20-0 unbeaten run to start 2022 ended with a straightsets defeat to 20th-ranked Taylor Fritz in the ATP Indian Wells Masters final.
The 35-year-old Spanish superstar was reluctant to discuss the upper body injury that hindered him against Fritz, insisting “it’s his day,” but he couldn’t hide his disappointment and the worry about what it might mean for the clay court season and his chances of a 14th French Open title.”
“Honestly, I wanted to make it perfect before clay,” Nadal said of a 2022 hard court run that saw him win an epic Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev and lift the trophy in Acapulco.
He said the first months of the year “have been very, very, very beautiful.
“Honestly I am sad because the way I was not able to compete,” he said of his inability to finish off the run with a fourth Indian Wells title.
“It is tough to have these feelings, especially every day, but in the final is very, very ugly, no?”
Making things worse, the oft-injured Nadal did not yet have a diagnosis of the problem that caused him to feel pain and shortness of breath.
It began late in his semifinal victory over 18-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and he twice received treatment during his loss to Fritz.
“I had pain, honestly,” Nadal said. “I have problem to breathe. I don’t know if it’s something on the rib, I don’t know yet. When I’m breathing, when I’m moving it’s like a needle all the time inside here,” he said, indicating his chest.
“I get dizzy a little bit because it’s painful. It’s a kind of pain that limits me a lot. Is not only about pain, I don’t feel very well because it affects my breathing.”
It’s the latest in a litany of injuries for Nadal, whose Australian Open triumph was his record-setting 21st Grand Slam title.
Troubled for years with knee injuries, he saw his 2021 season cut short by foot pain that he feared could end his career.
He said his resurgence had brought him joy, and now he’s focused on figuring out how to solve his latest physical problem.
“I am sad now, but I am not the kind of person that goes down or high emotionally depending on the moment.” –