‘It’s true that the foot has been bothering me,’ Rafael Nadal reveals shocking details about a potential injury scare
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Rafael Nadal
21-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal has struggled with injuries all his life. He missed the entire second half of the 2021 season due to a foot injury which left him on crutches for a few weeks. He started his recovery in October last year and returned to the tour in Australia this season. Ever since his return, Nadal hasn’t lost a match and has rediscovered his form.
He has started the season on a very high note by winning three titles- Melbourne Summer Set, the Australian Open, and the Mexican Open. This week at Indian Wells, the Spaniard has crossed the opening hurdles. In the Round of 16, he got the better of Reilly Opelka in straight sets 7-6(3),7-6(5) to reach the quarterfinals.
After the fourth match, Nadal spoke in depth about the condition of his foot. Ahead of his third-round match against Dan Evans, it was speculated that he is struggling with his foot and could withdraw from the match. But Nadal looked on song in the match and cruised into the next round in straight sets.
Nadal said that he sometimes still struggles with the foot and during his fourth-round match against Opelka, he felt discomfort in the second set. He added that despite the discomfort, he felt it was the right thing to keep going.
“Sometimes, yeah. So-so. For a moment, good. Then on the second set, a little bit worst, being honest. I felt my foot a little bit on the second set. I was able to keep going, keep running till the end, no? That’s the same thing. Yes, to be honest, I am not in the moment to lie or to hide things,” he said.
‘If something happens, we need to accept it’: Rafael Nadal
He further said that he is very happy to be playing tennis but today was a little bit worst than other days. He confirmed that he has struggled with his foot for the last two days and he’s ready for the challenges ahead.
“I am just very happy to be playing tennis. Today was a little bit worst than other days. It’s true that the last couple of days the foot has been bothering me a little bit more. Something that can happen. We know that. Just try to be ready and stay positive because going to be my last tournament on hard. After we going to go back to clay. That probably helps a little bit more,” he said.
He concluded by saying that he isn’t thinking about the foot much and is focused on his next opponent. If anything happens, he is ready to accept it.
“I will need to do the last effort to do it as well as possible here. Hopefully, the foot can keep holding. I am not thinking about the foot much. I am just thinking about my tennis and my next opponent. If something happens, we need to accept it,” he said.
Nadal didn’t hint at a possible withdrawal and hence will face Nick Kyrgios in a blockbuster quarterfinal clash next.
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Lakshya Chopra
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