Rafael Nadal, the Spanish tennis legend, recently underwent an arthroscopic surgical procedure to treat a hip injury on his left side that barred his participation in the French Open.
The renowned tennis player, who is 36 years old, announced plans to retire after the 2024 season. His hip injury was sustained during the Australian Open in January, causing a pause in his competitive play since the incident.
Despite efforts to rehabilitate through practice sessions over the past few months, Nadal could not reach the fitness level required to compete in professional tournaments.
The surgery took place in Barcelona, with the outcomes anticipated to be disclosed today, coinciding with Nadal’s 37th birthday. Just a month ago, Nadal made public his decision to withdraw from the French Open, marking the first instance in nearly two decades that he will not be contending in the prestigious event. Instead, he articulated his intention to emphasize his physical well-being, aiming to be in optimal shape for his final season in 2024.
Nadal has achieved numerous notable accomplishments throughout his distinguished career, including a staggering 14 men’s singles titles at Roland Garros and a cumulative tally of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, a record he shares with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
However, due to his withdrawal from multiple tournaments earlier this year due to the injury, Nadal’s world ranking has declined, with his current standing at 15th.
The surgery news was confirmed by Nadal’s representative, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, who also revealed that three doctors conducted the procedure.
