Rafael Nadal can not catch a break! A 22-time Major winner has not played since the Australian Open, missing eight tournaments and gathering dark clouds over his Roland Garros participation. Nadal experienced another blow on Wednesday, ending his practice session at home in Mallorca earlier and struggling with the pain. Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez were with Rafa when he terminated his training run, and things are not looking good for the king of clay ahead of his beloved Major. Nadal is a 14-time Roland Garros winner, 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, which seems unlikely at the moment. A left hip injury has kept Nadal off the court since the Australian Open, skipping eight tournaments and dropping out from the top-10 for the first time since April 2005. The Spaniard withdrew from the Rome Masters, extending his break from tennis and his misery.
Rafael Nadal is yet to recover from a severe hip injury.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 by the end of the season. Instead, the Spaniard experienced an abdominal tear at Wimbledon, ruining 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 encountering more blows. 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.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/Ifg6VkQ
Tennis