(EFE) – Rafael Nadal said on Thursday, two days after retiring from his Australian Open quarter-final match with an inner right hip ailment, that he hoped a long-term solution can be found to reduce the number of injuries on the ATP Tour.
“When there are more injuries than usual, it’s because something’s happening,” the world No. 1 said after he and his team arrived at the airport serving Palma de Mallorca, capital of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.
Rafa, who retired on Tuesday night while trailing Croatian world No. 6 Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 2-0, will be out for three weeks after an MRI he underwent in Melbourne revealed a Grade 1 strain of his iliopsoas muscle.
He recalled that he brought attention to a recent spate of injuries on Tour at the start of the Australian Open, a Grand Slam event he decided to play despite concerns about a right-knee injury.
He stressed, however, that he was not calling on the Tour to immediately make changes, such as moving more tournaments to surfaces easier on the body or shortening the tennis calendar.
“But if within a few years there’s a chance for some change that would benefit future generations of tennis players and improve their quality of life, that would be very positive, especially for the health of the athletes,” the 16-time Grand Slam champion said.
Our champ was clear, however, that he had no plans to retire in the short term.
“I don’t know how long I’ll play, whether it will be three, four or five more years. But when that time comes, I’ll know and I won’t be afraid. But now I’m not thinking about my retirement,” he said.
Rafa said that when referring to the detrimental effects of hard courts – the most commonly used surface on the ATP Tour – he was in no way doing so for his own personal gain.
“Few sports, as is the case with tennis, are played (mainly) on cement, hard, very aggressive surfaces, but I’m just another player giving his opinion,” Rafa, who will recover from his injury in his home town of Manacor, said.
Source: EFE
I think that Rafa can repeat last years success provided that Rafa plays attacking tennis . I think that Rafa played too defensively in the Australian Open playing far behind the baseline on service returns . Clicic played serve and volley to offset Rafa’s short returns , In the Federer match against Clicic , Clivic was unable to charge the net as Federer stayed close to the baseline on service returns and didnt give Clicic short returns or enough time to charge the net. I trust Rafa will adjust and make the changes to stay on top ofvthe tennis world . Besting Federer is a goal that will require a healthy and determined Rafa .
Rafa the comments above are so true,as the australian open wiwthout Rafa was dull and without Rafa’s flare and colourful presendce.
Whoever siad Federer gets all the consideraqtions is right,
and I was there and became so tired of seeing Federers fAce sprawl;ed everywhere.
Oh I am soooooooooooo over Federer being made so much of/
As the number one very little was spoken of Rafa before he became injured,
which I thought was so disrespectful.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX.
Yes…thankfully DEAR RAFA NADAL KNOWS VERY WELL HE IS THE ULTIMATE TOP TOP TOP MOST FAVORITE PLAYER IN TENNIS HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 THE NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD …….GENIUS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) RAFA’S BEAUTIFUL SOLID TENNIS AND CLASSY OUTSTANDING SPORTSMANSHIP HAS ALL GLOBAL AVID TENNIS FANS AND FULL HOUSE CROWDS ALWAYS LOVING HIM……CHEERING HIM……AND TOTALLY BEHIND HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BY NOW AFTER YEARS OF KNOWING THE FIELD RAFA IS SO INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT AND WISE AND HE STRIDES FORWARD………………….FORWARD……………………..FORWARD………………….WITH HIS BLESSED BEAUTIFUL TENNIS AND UNBELIEVABLE COURT COMMAND & ON GOING CONSISTENT IMPROVEMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HE IS THE ULTIMATE PASSIONATE DRIVEN TENNIS HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART & LOVE YOUR STRONG CHARACTER AND YOUR WISE, STEADY PRESENCE AND DEEP LOVE FOR THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXO
OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 😉 🙂 VAMOS SWEETHEART & LOTS OF BEST WISHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) 😉 We are very happy for you sweetheart and just forgot to mention too that besides you being number UNO Tennis player in the world for 4th time…..you are a blessed Champ Rafa Nadal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
As a number one Tennis player in the world you are incredibly gifted in many areas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 Aside from Tennis, you are leading happy, full and bright life!!!! : ) You are magical as a fisherman…..magical as a golfer……magical as a businessman…..magical as an amazing role model …..magical at representing many wonderful famous companies……magical at BUILDING YOUR IMPRESSIVE BLESSED RAFA NADAL ACADEMY……magical as a gorgeous model……Ambassador….magical fun loving yacht owner enjoying it all…..AND at the same time you are magical beloved cherished family member , magical loyal friend to many close friends, a beloved community and country of Spain loyal son……a genius at press conferences with your down to earth appeal…..your bright, genuine intelligence and solid character!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 SO….win or lose we see you smiling….cordial….and true gentleman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 : ) : ) That is why your Global fans find you exceptionally special and a hero in many fronts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) Your kindness towards other players , fans, media, tour organizers, and all who come in contact with you is simply outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KUDOS DEAR RAFA & CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR IMPRESSIVE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 😉 😉
Take beautiful care and keep smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Rafa really needs to start being smart about his scheduling and his tactics on court. His body is not that of a 20 year-old anymore and he seems he’s still struggling to accept that simple fact. He can’t play every tournament under the sun and at the same time expect to still grind out and outlast his opponents (in many cases younger than him) at best of 5 matches. It’s just won’t happen.
Love the guy to bits, but it’s so frustrating sometimes.
RAFA IS THE ONGOING STAR IN FIVE SET MATCH PLAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THE OWNER OF ENDURANCE DRIVE IN ITS BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
First he needs to make sure he is fit and healthy that is the most important thing. second he needs to listen to carlos moya and make changes in his schedule. But figure out most how to beat federer again.
In my opinion focuss on improving his return skills. This idea of playing one way streak to the backhand of federer is overrated and doesnt work anymore. I hope Moya knows a way just like ivan ljubcic did with federer on how to beat federer again.
Well maybe there will finally be a shift towards realism and a smarter approach. Cause for all the crap remarks I got in the fall, simply warning for this disaster in the making, playing like crazy instead of looking ahead at January, those voices have now become quiet. Of course, it would be too much for them to say ‘hey, you guys were right, and the simple reasoning that Rafa and his team surely would know best, appeared to be wrong’ but at least there is some appreciation in ‘likes’ these days. I would rather have been wrong though.
Absolutely agree with you. He will be always my favorite player,the most exciting player to watch,but….but the major key to Federer success is that he is the smartest player ever.Rafa is frustrating with his conservatism, not flexible and adaptable to the change in tennis and time in general.
Anger, sadness and frustration. Those three are battling with eachother as prime feeling. Exactly the one thing that could have, should have and needed to have been avoided, happened today and it is in the first place Nadal’s fault. From the moment he won his US Open final he has made only bad decisions and they all seemed aimed at making success in Australia impossible. And so it happened. Even though he and his team knew that from Djokovic, Wawrinka and Murray nothing could be expected and therefore Federer was again the one thread, and therefore the double thread (gap to 2 or gab to 4), they ignored all the signs and did not deliver. Victory in Beijing folks. Well done, compliments. And Federer picked up the easiest slam of all his 20. Bravo. I am speechless.
Smartest player ever…Federer.Rafa has a lot to learn from him…but I doubt it
Another grand slam for Roger Federer! Well deserved too from the looks of it, and good for him and his fans I suppose.
I’ve avoided the news all day. Don’t want to see the usual ‘fawning over Federer’ stuff.
Rafa will be back, and hopefully Roger is still around, because Rafa has unfinished business with him. If we know anything about Rafa, it is this- until he hangs up his racket (raquet, racquet?? HOW DO YOU SPELL IT!!???) Rafa will always give his all, his very best. So long as that is the case, I’m happy. The results will follow.
Stay blessed everyone.
Mac, I’m with you 100% on this. Credit where credit is due. Roger Federer had no competition at the AO because he had an easy draw and all of his arch rivals were carrying injuries. Records are there to be broken and Rafa will be determined to surpass Roger’s tally as long as he has the hunger for the fight. Obviously, smart scheduling will be key. Stick in there Rafa for the long haul!
yes, princess r had easy draw, AND ALONG WITH THAT, more importantly, much easier, cooler, better, more comfortable conditions of being scheduled for evening matches…. whilst everyone else had to play under extreme conditions of exceptionally high temperatures during day matches, against very strong under ranked players….and on and on and on…..that is why in my humble opinion princess r trophies are artificial and systematically set with crutches and side help to put it mildly. princess r trophies were mostly happening when he had zero competition till Rafa came along and took him to the cleaners….. ….. LOOK AT princess r match record on all surfaces: past Round 16, QF, SF, Finals…. matches…you will find way too many mysterious yet predictable favoring outcomes on his side….to name some: retiring opponents who were perfectly healthy, strong, till they arrived to his round….players claiming to be suddenly ill, playing top players who are not at their best…..or top players who we have seen play him with much less of their typical returning strength, appear to be playing him not to win….
Thank God for our NUMBER UNO CHAMPION Rafa and his hard, beautifully earned genuine competition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) RAFA always always always has …..real matches…..real sweat…..real class on the court….real sportsmanship…..real hard strong opponents……. real hard surprisingly out of the blue under ranked opponents…..bias umpires…….bias match coverage……and yet he prevails with his magical brilliant tennis…..brilliant passion……brilliant determination……and he strides forward, our NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD for the 4th time….with the admiration and love of all RAFA’S MILLIONS GLOBAL FANS and the extraordinary respect and adoration by OTHER WORLD CHAMPIONS from different sports.
GOD BLESS YOU RAFA NADAL & THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GIVE TO TENNIS & TENNIS FANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 😉 😉 : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TIME BETWEEN TOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Have a great week and enjoy!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXO
On a side note, who thinks this Aussie Open was one of the least exciting majors in several years? I have hardly seen any thrillers, no real hot shots from Rafa (if he hits a lot of hot shots, that is usually a sign that he is in the zone) and there hardly any matches between slam winners on the men’s side. The majority of talent was gone by the time the second week got hot.
Rafa had brilliant backward shots….brilliant net reach shots brilliant lot…..
Yes Jean, you are right. In fact I think that the women’s tournament was much more exciting with closer, more evenly matched contests. Roger wasn’t really challenged until the second set of the final, so it needs Rafa and the other top injured guys to come back strong and knock him off his perch.
Dont make easy for roger….plz…find.the way…and i know rafa will.do it….he will again find a way….. Roger got his serve so good going from.2017…and still on he is avoiding rafa where he think rafa is good ..and hence not giving rafa the confidence again to build of beating him…..roger is betable just his first serves needs to be returned long…and get him into rally..make him run side ways….once u beat roger he will eventually have drop in form.and doubt in mind… ….thats the way….plz rafa plz find the way…..with all due respect to roger he is one of the greatest of all time without doubt…but rafa will beat him….its rafa who is going to find a way…or else we will see roger taking away 30 slams
Sometimes in early December 2017, I had relayed to all Rafa fans out here some of the 2018 predictions that I had been privileged to ‘extract’ from good old her Aunt Maria (Siberia), but as usual nobody appeared to have paid much attention to it.
I repeat the predictions hereunder:
1. Rafa Nadal will withdraw from the AO 2018 finals due to injury (This came to pass with deadly precision). Infact,I recall she had desperately wanted Rafa to by all means avoid AO 2018 she said she feared the injury may jeorpadise his winning chances at FO 2018.
2. Roger Federer will win AO 2018 and thus get his last grand slam of his career. This has happened.
3. Rafa Nadal has good chances of winning all the remaining grand slams in a row IF HE STAYS HEALTHY. I remember frighteningly and stammeringly asking her: ”Dear Aunt, does that include Wimble-wimble-wimbledon?” She laughed loudly as she answered”Yes, of course!”
But, as always, we’d see……….hmmmn
Dear Maria (Snake Island),
I have noticed and remembered clearly the information you have “extracted” from Aunt Maria Siberia back in Dec 2017. I remembered that she was pretty spot on for Rafa’s US Open run. Anyway, I did not have my hopes when Rafa was playing his first few rounds even though he looked pretty in form before the Schwartzman match.
Would take 3 slams in a row anytime! 🙂
As usual, let’s see and hope for the best.
If I’m not mistaken they do that at Wimbledon too. Rafa does not playing with the roof shut at least at Wimbledon. Whatever it is everyone knows that Federer likes the roof shut. This also proves that the stars and luck are usually in Federer’s side which in addition to his talent is quite an advantage for him.
I hope all the other players have seen that cilic took 2 sets off him and it would definitely be possible to beat Federer.
Vamos Rafa!!!!
I have to say i am very disgusted by the conduct of the australian open organizers. In my opinion they are absoluty pro federer. They made everything possible for him the last two years to win the title. They made the surface harder and faster that will suit his game. Also he played only night matches no day matches in the burning heat and even today they closed the roof for him so that cilic had a disadvantage and federer a big advantage. due to the heat and wind
Especially the last one pisses me off. They were not willing to close the roof for the ladies final yesterday and as a result of that Simona Halep was rushed to the hospital and hospitalized due to severe dehydration but they were willing to do that for Federer
Oh well, another Fed victory and he deserved it, but I know Rafa will work hard as usual to close the gap!
Lorna,
Yes unfortunatly cilic choked again in the fifth by not taking his chances in the first game of the fifth set and give the momentum away to federer als always the schwiss survives these kind of moments. God what a disaster halep not winning and now federer winning.
I believe that nadal will come back. I dont think federer will play clay court season so that will open chances for nadal. Nadal and Moya should first figure out how to end the losing streak against federer. Moya should convince Nadal that Nadal old way of playing against Federer will not work anymore.
Key issue in my opinion should be to improve bigly his return. Furthermore i hope that djokovic will turn back to his best. The gap between Federer and Nadal should not be bigger. Nadal should focuss on winning 11 title at roland garros. and hopefully somebody will prevent roger winning at Wimbeldon.
Yes, Cilic got too anxious in the fifth set, snatched at some of the balls and therefore netted shots he should have made. Unfortunately he threw away the match after all his hard work in the fourth to get back on level terms. The rest of the year will be exciting and I can’t wait to see what unfolds. I know that, rather than being disheartened at Federer widening the gap, Rafa will be fired up to meet the challenge!
Uuh, that figures, Lorna.
Rafa is always doing catch up!
But as always, we’d see……hmmn
Certainly hope cilic proves us wrong. Will make my day!