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Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon Quarterfinals
Photo:
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
His chronic pain and discomfort due to an incurable foot disease has been known for a long time.
But at the Grand Slam in Wimbledon, tennis superstar Rafael Nadal apparently has to deal with another problem this year.
As the 36-year-old explained after his five-set win in the quarter-finals against the American Taylor Fritz, pain in the abdominal muscles has been bothering him in the All England Club “for a few days”.
On Wednesday, these were also visible to every spectator in the game against Fritz.
In the second round, when the score was 4: 3, he had the physiotherapist come and disappeared into the dressing room for treatment.
With a pained face, he clutched his stomach and leaned on his bat.
In the meantime, Nadal hardly moved and tried to keep the points as short as possible, but then won after 4:21 hours and made it to the next round.
"Today was nothing new," Nadal said after the match: "But undoubtedly today was the worst day.
There was a clear increase in pain and limitations.« But he was »used to be in pain«.
On Thursday, his day off before the semifinals against Nick Kyrgios, he will "do some more tests".
That's why it's "difficult to say" whether he can even compete against the Australian in a duel.
But, emphasized Nadal: "In the end, the player always decides."
The abdominal muscle injury is not the only physical handicap for Nadal.
According to his own statements, the Spaniard has been suffering from Müller-Weiss syndrome for several years, a degenerative foot disease that repeatedly causes him great pain.
Because of the symptoms, he had undergone radio wave therapy before the Grand Slam in London, according to those around him. At the French Open a few weeks ago, he was still dependent on regular injections and painkillers.
Despite all physical limitations, Nadal sees himself as playing at an absolute high.
"If we leave the problems aside: the level of tennis, the feeling for the ball, that's really great," said the Mallorcan, who can still reach the calendar Grand Slam after his triumphs at the Australian Open and French Open.
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