Global Courant 2023-05-18 19:52:32
Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he was withdrawing from the French Open due to a persistent hip injury that has sidelined him since January and that he expects 2024 to be the last season of his career.
The owner of one record 14 championships at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament, it will miss for the first time since its debut there in 2005.
Nadal, who turns 37 next month, broke the news of his withdrawal – and future plans – at a press conference at his tennis academy in Manacor, Spain. He said he does not want to set a date for his return to the tennis tour, but expects it to take months.
And then the 22-time Grand Slam champion added: “You never know how it will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year.”
Play begins at Roland Garros in Paris on May 28. Nadal holds a career record of 112-3 over 18 appearances at the French Open, a level of dominance unmatched by any man or woman at a Grand Slam event in any sport’s long annals. that dates back to the 1800s. When Nadal won the trophy last year at age 36 while dealing with chronic foot pain, he became the oldest champion in tournament history.
Rafael Nadal speaks on Thursday at his tennis academy in Mallorca, Spain.Francisco Ubilla / AP
Nadal’s birthday is on June 3, while he would normally play his third-round match at Court Philippe Chatrier. Instead, he will be out, just as he has been for most of this season.
The Spaniard has not competed anywhere since losing to Mackie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open on January 18, when his movement was clearly restricted by a bothersome left hip flexor. That was Nadal’s first Grand Slam exit since 2016.
An MRI exam the following day revealed the extent of the injury, and his manager said at the time Nadal was expected to take up to two months to fully recover. He initially wanted to return to the Monte Carlo Masters in March on his beloved red clay, but was unable to play there and subsequently sat out tournament after tournament, reducing his chances of being fully fit in time for the French league. Open.
Rafael Nadal misses French Open with hip
America Region News ,Next Big Thing in Public Knowledg
