Toni Nadal feels Rafael Nadal’s foot injury at the French Open was the decisive factor in his nephew’s trophyless second half of the 2022 season
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Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal
Rafael Nadal had a rollercoaster 2022 season. He began the season with 20 consecutive wins this season, his best-ever start to a season that saw him win 3 titles including the 2022 Australian Open. His first defeat of the season came in the finals of the 2022 Indian Wells Masters while he was suffering from a stress fracture in his rib.
The fracture delayed the start of his clay season which was further affected by a foot injury he suffered at the Rome Masters. While he did manage to be fit for the 2022 French Open, he injured his foot after his first-round win. He went on to win the title, his 22nd major and 14th at the tournament, having played with painkiller injections to his leg that numbed his foot.
Post the Roland Garros, Nadal had to undergo a small procedure on his foot in order to be fit again for the 2022 Wimbledon. While it was a success, Nadal could not win another title throughout the season. He suffered an abdominal tear that forced him to withdraw on the eve of his semi-final match in Wimbledon and the injury was enough to affect the Spaniard for the remainder of the season.
As for Rafa’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, the surgery after the win in Paris was the biggest turning point for Nadal. Having won 4 titles before Wimbledon, the former World No. 1 couldn’t reach another final for the season battling his injury woes.
“The treatment of Rafael’s foot after Roland Garros was decisive even if his abdominal injury deprived him of all regularity for the rest of the season. I think Rafa will have a great year again, although there will be up to 8 or 10 players fighting for the important titles,” said Uncle Toni during a press conference in Mallorca.
Rafael Nadal about to conclude his Latin America Exhibition Tour
Nadal is currently on the last leg of his Latin America Exhibition Tour where he has taken along Casper Ruud as well. Ruud, a former graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy, which is headed by Toni Nadal, was also the runner-up to Rafa at the French Open and to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.
The duo will now be traveling to Mexico City, Mexico for the final match of their Tour. Nadal and Ruud played against each other in 4 of the 5 matches on the Tour of which the Spaniard won 3 while Ruud picked up his first-ever against Nadal although it won’t be counted in the record books as it’s not an official match.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)