Rafael Nadal confirmed to leave the Top-10 after 18 years following Taylor Fritz’s win in the Acapulco quarterfinals
Rafael Nadal received a major setback after his prolonged stay away from action due to injury forced him out of top 10 in the rankings.
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Rafael Nadal
Out-of-action 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal received another major setback after the leg injury he suffered in January. The 36-year-old is set to lose his place in the top 10 of the rankings for the first time in 18 years after mathematical equations went against him due to prolonged absence.
Earlier, for a brief moment, there was a chance for his stay when Lorenzo Sonego lost yesterday in the Dubai Tennis Championships. But, the equations changed after Taylor Fritz’s win over Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals round of the ATP 500 event. This is something unprecedented in the career of the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Nadal reacted to the news but not giving too much concern. He joked about his 18-year-long stay in the top 10 despite picking injuries at regular intervals. “It’s better to be top 10 than to be outside the top 10, but to be honest it’s a miracle that I never left the top 10 in 18 years with all the injuries I had,” Nadal said.
Nadal was present at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to watch his favorite Real Madrid in action against Barcelona on Thursday. He also proved some updates about the progress of the injury. Earlier he withdrew from the Sunshine Double as well.
Rafael Nadal still unsure about the time of his return to action
The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal bowed out of the 2023 Australian Open due to an injury. Upon diagnosis, six to eight weeks of recovery time was confirmed for Nadal. Now, after some time he provided updates about the same once again.
“I’m recovering. In Australia, I had a pretty major breakdown, unfortunately, and it’s taking time,” Nadal told Television Espanola. “It’s week by week checking how the problem evolves. The damage made in Australia was big. A big tear in my muscle, in a very difficult spot”
Even after making visible progress, the ‘King of Clay’ is not ready to provide a set date for a return to action. “I have to be patient. The calendar is tough and I’m not 20 years old anymore. I don’t know when I’m coming back. If in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, or Madrid. I want to play so as soon as I can do it… I will,” Nadal explained. Whenever he makes a return, getting back to the top 10 will be the first priority for Nadal.
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Abhinavendu Singh
(290 Articles Published)