'I never knew how long I could last': Nadal opens up on career-long battle with pain
New Delhi, May 29
The 22 Grand Slams champion Rafael Nadal has detailed the immense physical sacrifice behind one of tennis's most decorated careers, confessing that he constantly feared it would be his last season as he battled a chronic foot condition.
The retired Spanish icon, who was part of the game's legendary 'Big Three' along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, discussed his difficult sacrifices in the quest to reach the very pinnacle of his sport following the release of the Netflix series 'Rafa', which examines the physical and mental challenges of his time playing professionally.
"I've had to make decisions about my health, where you are on the borderline between right or wrong," the 39-year-old admitted to the BBC. "But if I hadn't explored all that, I probably would have had 10 fewer Grand Slams...This is the reality."
Nadal suffered the first diagnosis of the rare Muller-Weiss syndrome just two months before clinching his first French Open crown at just 19. He sustained a broken bone during the 2005 Madrid Open final, which was a rare illness that is partially attributed to the intense physical training of his childhood with his uncle Toni Nadal, immediately jeopardising his health.
Instead of accepting that the chronic condition meant that his career was over, Nadal proceeded to rack up a remarkable 13 additional Grand Slams over the course of nine years, and in doing so, he secured no less than one Grand Slam trophy a season, cementing his status as the greatest clay court player to ever play the game.
But on the inside, the trophies and celebrations hid continuous doubts about what the future held.
"Tennis became a race against time," Nadal confessed to the BBC. "Always doubting my head about how long I can last with this foot? I never knew how long my career would last."
"I always thought, maybe it's the last year, so there's no time to stop."
The continued physical effort of competing at the very highest level also led to two serious health problems: a recurring tendinitis in his left knee and intestinal perforations caused by the excessive use of painkillers.
During some matches, Nadal had no choice but to rely on specifically administered anaesthetic injections just to make it on court, and he readily admitted that his victory in the 2022 French Open - his final career Grand Slam victory - saw him playing with a leg that he had almost no feeling in at all.
However, the burning passion to win outweighs any pain. "The key was that the suffering was less than my passion and my happiness for what I was doing," the retired tennis ace explained.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Hats off to the champion! But honestly, as someone who works in sports medicine, this glorification of playing through extreme pain is concerning. Yes, he's a legend, but no one should have to inject anaesthetics just to walk on court. There's a fine line between passion and self-harm.
I remember watching his 2022 French Open final against Ruud - he was limping but still winning with that lethal forehand. True warrior! Reminds me of our own cricketers who play through injuries for the country. Salute to Rafa! 🙌
The Netflix documentary 'Rafa' is a must-watch for any sports fan. It's heartbreaking to see how much he suffered behind those victories. But what an inspiration - turning pain into 22 Grand Slams is nothing short of divine madness. 🙏
This man literally played with a numb leg and still won Roland Garros. Meanwhile, some of our own players sit out for minor strains. No disrespect to anyone, but Nadal's work ethic is on another level. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
As a tennis coach in Bangalore, I often show videos of Nadal to my students. His mental toughness is what separates him from the rest. Yes, he paid a heavy price physically, but his legacy is unmatched. True grit! 🏆
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