Rafael Nadal could stop playing after Roland Garros until his chronic foot injury gets resolved, claims Spanish journalist Angel Garcia
Rafael Nadal came into the 2022 French Open battling injury. The World No. 5 Spaniard, who made a third-round exit at the Italian Open, was seen limping in his match against Denis Shapovalov in Rome after appearing to have aggravated a foot injury.
It was speculated that the injury was related to Mueller-Weiss Syndrome, a chronic foot condition that Nadal suffers from. After the match, Nadal said he was living with the injury and it was becoming more difficult for him with each passing day.
Spanish journalist Angel Garcia, speaking on COPE radio, said that Nadal has completely anaesthetized his left leg just to take part in the French Open.
Segun Alcalá Nadal se retira después de Roland Garros
Pero yo creo que no será así
Alcalá no da ni una @partidazocope
"He has a practically completely anesthetized leg so he can play in Paris. A solution will be sought, it may be found, but Nadal will not play after Paris until the right solution is found. He will suffer the consequences of the game, but he thought Roland Garros was worth everything," Garcia said.
He added that the bone in Nadal's foot has necrosis, meaning the tissue is dying due to a lack of blood supply, and the 35-year-old will stop playing until he finds the right solution.
Ahora dice Ángel García que Nadal juega con el pie dormido y eso es mucho riesgo ,pero que Paris merece ese riesgo
Que después buscara solución y Casi seguro que no jugará Wimbledon y muy difícil Open de EEUU
Another journalist, Angel Rigueira, wrote an article in the Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo about Nadal's struggles since being diagnosed with the Müller-Weiss syndrome.
"He did not give up against Shapovalov in Rome, but he suffered superhuman pain. This greatly frustrated him. He took doctor Angelo Ruiz-Cotorro with him to Roland Garros, the man who has been guiding him through all the therapies since 2005," Rigueira wrote.
Rigueira added that Nadal will speak more about his troubles after Roland Garros.
"He decided on all or nothing to come here. He risks the whole season, that's for sure. He will say everything after the tournament, he hopes the world will understand him. Now, two matches of four hours each are behind him, and Zverev is waiting for him. Everything is planned for Thursday, he is also supervised by nutritionists, masseurs, there are Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez, everyone will do everything to help Rafa win the 22nd Grand Slam title in the end." he explained.
Speaking at a press conference after his French Open fourth-round win against Felix Auger-Aliassime, Nadal did weigh in on the injury and his future.
"I know my situation, and I accept it. I can’t complain much. Two weeks and a half ago, I didn’t know if I would be able to be here," said Nadal. "So just enjoying the fact that I am here for one more year. And being honest, every match that I play here, I don’t know if it’s going to be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career."
Nadal added that his chronic foot condition could make things tougher for him in the long run.
"I mean, I have what I have there in the foot, so if we are not able to find an improvement or a small solution on that, then it's becoming super difficult for me, no," he added. "So that's it."
After the quarterfinal win against Novak Djokovic, Nadal was asked if he would be back at Roland Garros next year and the Spaniard chose to remain coy.
Rafael Nadal will take on Alexander Zverev in the Roland Garros semifinals
Following his victory against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal will face third seed Alexander Zverev for a place in the French Open final. Nadal powered to victory over Djokovic in the quarterfinals, with the 35-year-old Spaniard rarely troubled and playing at his vintage best.
Zverev comes into the semifinals having seen off rising star Carlos Alcaraz's challenge. The win meant the German beat a top-10 player for the first time in a Grand Slam at the 14th time of asking.
This will be the 10th meeting between the pair, with Nadal having a favourable 6-3 record over Zverev.