BARCELONA, Spain — Rafael Nadal has undergone surgical procedure to deal with ache and acquire mobility in his proper hand, the retired tennis nice introduced Friday.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who performs left-handed, mentioned in a put up on X that he has been engaged on this challenge for “a very long time.”
Nadal included a photograph of himself in a social media put up together with his proper arm bandaged and a sling. “I in all probability will not be capable of play within the Australian Open,” the primary main spherical subsequent yr, he quipped.
A separate assertion from Nadal’s representatives mentioned the surgical procedure was “geared toward relieving ache and restoring mobility” within the joint on the base of his proper thumb. The surgical procedure passed off at a personal clinic in Barcelona.
Nadal, 39, will retire from tennis in November 2024, having performed by varied accidents earlier than lastly giving up hope of extending his vastly profitable profession.
In Might, at a ceremony in Paris celebrating his report 14 French Open championships, Nadal mentioned he had not touched a racket in six months since dropping his final skilled match, towards Spain within the Davis Cup, 13 months in the past.
Final month, a video went viral of him hitting a ball with skilled participant Alexandra Illa at Nadal’s academy in his hometown of Mallorca.
