Rafael Nadal has always managed to come back despite his injuries.Image: keystone/shutterstock
Rafael Nadal will make his comeback in Barcelona today after a three-month break. Over the course of his career, the Spaniard has always fought his way back despite numerous serious physical problems.
Yoann Graber / watson.ch/fr
On his Wikipedia page you will find 55 entries if you enter the word “injury”. On the sides of his two arch-rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer there are only 18 and 12 respectively. Yes, Rafael Nadal is really unlucky.
The number of injuries the Spaniard has suffered is countless: foot, knee, back, stomach, shoulder, hip. The end of the Mallorcan’s career has often been predicted. The fact is that 22 years after his debut on the ATP Tour, Rafael Nadal is still there and will face the Italian Flavio Cobolli (ATP 62) in the first round of the tournament in Barcelona today, Tuesday.
Rafael Nadal training in Barcelona.Image: keystone
Another comeback, three months after his last competitive appearance in Brisbane (before that he had taken a year-long break) and the cancellations at the Australian Open, Indian Wells and last week in Monte Carlo.
We look back at the most spectacular comebacks after injuries to the “Bull of Manacor”.
First title in Australia
Rafael Nadal suffered from knee tendonitis at the end of the 2008 season. It forced him to give up in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Paris-Bercy and, above all, to skip the ATP finals at the end of the year.
Just two months later he was back on top, inflicting one of his most painful defeats on Roger Federer in the 2009 Australian Open final. We all still remember the tears that the Basel player shed when the trophy was handed over.
Image: AP
A crazy season
In the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2010, the Mallorcan gave up against Andy Murray with scores of 6:4, 7:5 and 3:0. The reason for this? Pain in my knee again.
You are already worried about your health and the future course of your career. Wrongly. Rafa has a monster season, winning the other three Grand Slam tournaments, including his second title at Wimbledon.
Image: AP
The very long break
Big surprise at the 2012 Wimbledon tournament: Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the tournament in five sets by Czech Lukas Rosol in the first round.
This game is the last of the season for the Spaniard, ending a year that was severely affected by knee pain. Concerns about Nadal’s future are numerous. He will return to the tour in February 2013, eight months after his defeat in London. And will win the French Open this year as usual.
Image: AP
Stan benefits
At the Australian Open 2014, Stan Wawrinka achieved the feat of qualifying for his first Grand Slam final. He meets Nadal. The Vaudois started like a fire engine in the first set and also had the advantage that the Mallorcan injured his back in the second set, which he also lost. Despite back pain and a huge blister on his left hand, Nadal fought his way back into the game and won the third set. Impressively combative!
Picture: AP/AP
In the end it is Wawrinka who has the last word and wins in four sets.
Bild: EPA/AAP
A terrible disappointment
The 2016 edition of the French Open will be particularly remembered. The then nine-time winner Nadal had to retire before his duel in the third round. However, in the previous game he had defeated Facundo Bagnis 6:3 6:0 6:3.
Since the Spaniard is giving up in his own living room, it is clear: his wrist injury – early tendonitis – is serious. After skipping Wimbledon, he won gold in doubles at the Rio Olympics and reached the semifinals in singles.
Picture: AP/AP
The Shattered American Dream
Nadal will meet Juan Martin Del Potro in the semi-finals of the US Open 2018 – another unlucky person in the tennis circus. After being down 2-0, the Spaniard threw in the towel before the start of the third set due to knee pain.
Image: EPA/EPA
Five months later he played another Grand Slam final in Australia, which he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Returned from nowhere
Due to a foot injury, Rafael Nadal will end his 2021 season in August, shortly before the US Open. He had already had to miss Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics for the same reason.
However, after a break of more than four months, he won the first tournament after his return, the ATP 250 tournament in Melbourne. He then won the Australian Open, setting the then record for most Grand Slam titles. In the final he defeated Daniil Medvedev after a set deficit of 0-2. Simply monumental.
Bild: keystone
This article was adapted from an initial version published on our website on June 1, 2022.
This man has teeth! All of Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam titles
1 / 24
This man has teeth! All of Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam titles
French Open 2022: Nadal – Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.
quelle: keystone / thibault camus
Djokovic is deported – the reaction from Federer and Nadal is wonderful
Video: watson
This might also interest you:
The Swiss national goalkeeper didn’t just have the wrong drug in his urine for an early comeback. The risk of a lengthy procedure is also latent.
Is he a doping offender? Is he an addict? Or is he an innocent victim of a series of extremely unfortunate circumstances? The Swiss national handball goalkeeper Nikola Portner remains temporarily banned until the trial is completed after the drug crystal meth was found in his urine. And that alone can take months – with the risk of being moved on to CAS.
2024-04-16 10:44:40
#Rafael #Nadals #comeback
