A nightmare of 123 days and more: review of Rafael Nadal’s most difficult year

Despite the fact that on January 18, 2023, Rafael Nadal left the Rod Laver Arena with clear signs of pain and was eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open, he never thought that four months later, it would still be broken. Physically and mentally. And it is already 123 days after this injury to the iliopsoas which did not allow him to defend the title in Melbourne and which is gradually making him retire. A terrible blow, considering that he himself said that the recovery time would be a maximum of eight weeks.

During a press conference in Mallorca, he announced that he would not pursue his comeback in 2023 and that 2024 would be his last year on the circuit. “I will play the tournaments that I want to say goodbye to those who marked my career “, he admitted sadly. “This decision wasn’t made by me, it was made by my body “, another of the statements that show a forced withdrawal.

And it is that the recovery from this disease has been slow and complex. Several relapses forced him to systematically announce that he was not ready to return. It was first in Indian Wells and Miami. Later in Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Rome. Finally, the hardest absence of all: Roland Garros.

The Parisian Grand Slam will not feature the king of clay for the first time since 2004 and at the beginning of the actions at the Phillipe Chatrier, this May 29, the Spaniard will leave the top 100 after 20 years . Failing to defend the 2,000 points he earned last year from his 14th Musketeer Cup will leave him with only 445 units: 180 from the US Open, 200 from the ATP Finals, 45 from the Open. Australia 2023 and 20 of the 2023 Masters. Cincinnati and Paris. Due to his already announced hiatus until next year, he will only be left with those performed in Melbourne, be able to descend to position 600 on the planet.

In any case, two scenarios will help Nadal have the chance to be in the most important events on the planet for his retirement as a professional. On the one hand, there are the invitations, which will no doubt arrive in droves when the Spaniard starts asking for them. Cases like Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka are an example of this, as both players spent many months receiving “Wild Cards” to appear in the draws for ATP events after their injuries. “If I need invitations, I guess there will be no problem for that, I think I have earned it” launched at Thursday’s conference.

The other method would be ‘protected classification’, as long as the Spaniard can prove he wasn’t playing due to the injury. From six months without competition, you can request this benefit, which allows you to enter tables directly up to 12 (this number is only if you register a year without competition) first tournaments that you choose for your return . Although it would not serve for possible ATP Finals.

Of course, his current injury is not the only reason for his farewell. “These last years have been difficult, my daily life has been at a very low level “, said.

And it is that the successes of 2022 (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Acapulco, Melbourne ) maybe they’re covering up the issues that also surfaced in this class: a cracked rib, foot discomfort due to Muller-Weiss syndrome, and an abdominal tear. If we pass in 2021, an intervention appears at the level of the scaphoid of the left foot. This year in its first official appearance came Iliopsoas and the 123 Days of Nightmare.

That’s why he admits he needs a point. He will stop training even dared to say so. Everything to be able to arrive in 2024 in the best possible way and say goodbye to tennis on the court, in competition. A first stop could be the Davis Cup which takes place in different European cities in September and November, although it depends on the decision of the captain. And Rafa’s body.

Later, this stellar stage will pass through the cities that saw it become one of the best in history. The big four appear as obvious stops. Barcelona, ​​Monte Carlo and Rome, the places where he won the most outside Paris too. The rest will be up to the Balearics and his physique. Majorca maybe. Madrid of course. Canada, the country where he has won the most concrete Masters 1000 tournaments, may also be an option.