The elimination of the Spaniard in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Rome was conditioned by the discomfort he suffered in his left foot. An incurable and degenerative disease that has tormented him since 2005, when he was just beginning a career that has become a legend. Now he attacks it again and all this less than two weeks from a new Roland Garros.
“It is difficult to understand my daily life, I have no intention of playing the victim. Tomorrow I’m going to wake up terrible because I’m not going to take anything, I live with lots of anti-inflammatories because otherwise I can’t train “, with this sentence, Rafael Nadal explained the martyrdom he lives because of the pain in his foot. A known nuisance for the Spaniard, who had to live with a deformation of the scaphoid called Muller-Weiss syndrome . The toughest opponent he’s ever faced.
The defeat in the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Rome touched the depths of the Balearics, but not because of a sporting issue, but because once again his left foot had said enough. A repetitive pain for Rafa, but every time he hits him hard, it dislodges him. “I’m not injured, I’m a player who lives with an injury” he launched in a press conference, to then deepen this: “I play to be happy, but of course pain takes away your happiness, and not just to play but to live. My problem is that many days I live with too much pain. I love what I do, but it gives me many bad days” he said visibly affected.
Chronic Müller-Weiss disease is caused by scaphoid deformity , which prevents the bone from receiving the blood supply necessary for its survival, even causing it to undergo necrosis. East incurable, inoperable and degenerative disease This caused Nadal’s bone to break in two, having to endure this pain for years.
This fracture was suffered in 2004, when he was only 17 years old. In the middle of the Estoril tournament, the boy who had not yet won any of his 13 Roland Garros, had to suffer his first big injury as a professional, an injury that marked him but which has nothing to do with with what will come later.
During the 2005 Masters Tournament final, Nadal again felt his scaphoid fracture in his left foot. Severe pain twisted him and caused him to lose what would be his first chance to win the year-end tournament. It was there that tests confirmed that he had Müller-Weiss disease. A “bump” in the bone as it is still called today.
In a documentary released in 2016, Angel Ruiz Cotorro, the GP of Spain, recalled this period, saying that even “There were times when there were fears for the long-term continuity of Rafael’s career ”.
Back then, the solution to the problem was templates. Some that gave him the opportunity to continue competing, but caused him a life full of pain. At modify the natural supports his other joints suffered over time, his knees being one of the most affected.
But despite the fact that this convulsive period dates back more than 15 years, the lump continues to cause problems. Without going any further, this is the reason that forced the best Spanish player of all time to be absent for long periods of the 2021 season.
After playing Roland Garros last year, Nadal had to withdraw from the Olympics and Wimbledon due to pain in his left foot . Despite attempting to return to Washington, the injury was more serious and the Spaniard had to return to the operating room.
Six months were during which he could no longer play. A time when we even speculated on his retirement. But Rafa is a badass. Not only did he return to the circuit in early 2022, but he also managed to become champion in the first three tournaments he participated in, including the Australian Open.
It was in Melbourne that he told the world about his situation. “With the scaphoid cut in half, it’s hard to forget the injury. It is a truth like a temple and it will not be forgotten for the rest of my life. The rest deceives you and deceives me. I have a problem that does not have a solution below. Another thing is that it can allow me to compete with more or less guarantees and that is what we are trying to do. “commented the Rod Laver Arena.
A sentence that we will undoubtedly continue to hear, but which will not take away his hunger, especially as Roland Garros approaches. The wound attacks him, but the beast is still standing. It is an animal raised on survival.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
