Rafael Nadal will be sidelined for six to eight weeks by the hip flexor injury he suffered during his second-round loss at the Australian Open. He had an MRI scan on his left leg in Melbourne on Thursday, which revealed a grade 2 injury in the Illiopsoas, the primary hip flexor.
“Good afternoon. I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday,” Rafa said in his tweet. “The MRI shows a grade 2 lesion in the iliopsoas of my left leg. Now it’s sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time 6 to 8 weeks.”
“He will be resting the next days once back in Spain and will start with anti-inflammatory physiotherapy,” his team said in a statement. “The normal time estimated for a complete recuperation is between six and eight weeks.”
A six to eight week recuperation would allow Rafa to return well before the clay court season and the run-up to the defence of his French Open title in late May and early June. That means our champ won’t play in Dubai and his status for Indian Wells and Miami is in doubt.
Source: Reuters
For Rafa Fan 1, in my view Rublev is actually better prepared to best Joker in five sets than Rune is at this point in their respective careers. If Rublev is ever going to do anything in a Major this would be the time to do it.
I only watch matches where the Joker is not playing. Prefer to watch the women’s.
Rune out. Thought he might’ve challenged Djo.
I’m not at all surprised that he’s faking his injury but I didn’t hear or read about it anywhere except here and thought of it myself. Just wish somebody would beat him.
Rafa get well soon and completely. Wish you all the very best.
VAMOS
Djoker faking his injury at the 2023 AO has made several major newspaper articles today.
Check it out. The guy is a sneaky liar and likes to fake injuries.
I hope you will recover soon I like your style and the way you move.
Greetings Magalie S. Burke
May God bless you Rafa
Even though Rafa is out of the AOdue to injury, it is great to see the kids he inspired doing so well at the AO – Iga Swiatek and Sebastian Korda, to name a few.😀
Hey, Gene, you are so right. So ironic when Z got targeted by a bird🐦; apparently a Russian belief -good luck? Alas-he lost. Let’s direct the luck to Rafa; get back healthy,
confident, and strong🥰
Indian Wells is indeed one of Rafa’s favourite tournaments because the conditions there suit his game very well. It is hot and dry there which really favours his topspin. He is also very well looked after at Indian Wells because he has a very good relationship with the owner of the tournament. And he enjoys the golf on his days off. Unlike the majority of the Masters 1000s, IW is played over ten days, not seven. Miami is very warm but humid, which does not suit Rafa. That said, like many of his fans on this site, I too think Rafa should stay in Europe and prepare well for the clay court season.
Meanwhile, the top players at the AO appear to be ‘dropping like flies’! Apart from Alcaraz, who never made it, and Rafa, they have since lost Ruud, Medvedev, Fritz and Zverev, Unfortunately, such losses leave the door even more wide open for Djokovic, who already had a favourable draw. Tsitsipas is playing well though. Personally, I am not motivated to watch any of them, now that Rafa is out. I shall concentrate on watching the women play instead.
I am rooting for anyone to beat djokovic. He is faking an injury and so unethical.
Plus I want Rafa to stay ahead in the grand slam race. 😀
I don’t care who wins now, as long as it is not djokovic.
As those 2 Australian reporters famously stated last year, “Novak djokovic is a sneaky liar”.
I don’t want djokovic to win the Aussie open title either. Djokovic is faking an injury and playing mind games against others to gain an unfair advantage. Unfortunately the tournament director is helping him.
The two Australian news anchors said “novak djokovic is a lying, sneaky a**hole” and blasted him for his actions that he lied on his travel forms and met with kids after having tested covid positive.
He’s a good tennis player but a disgrace to humanity.
Just someone (de minaur, rublev, rune, bautista agut, shelton, tsitsipas, sinner, korda – anyone) stop djokovic from stealing the 2023 australian open title.
He is not injured but using it as an excuse to get medical timeouts and unfair advantages.
I agree with you, Jacinda!
I sure wish that Rafa stays on top of the grand slam race.
Djokovic is so sly and sneaky. I question the validity of his supposed injury at the Aussie open.
So boring without Rafa Also I was rooting for Casper but he got knocked out. Although his leg is bothering him I don’t see anyone that Novák can’t knock out… I will be rooting for anyone to do so but I’m afraid he’ll be lifting his 10th AO 🏆 . Not watching much of it. No way will I be up all night watching unless Rafa was in! Hope Rafa will be ready for IW but I am doubting it…
I know it’s his favorite however with injuries and being a father… I think he’ll save himself for RG. Hope I’m wrong because Indian wells is close enough for me to go see Rafa!
I think nadal will come back sooner. The injury is not that big of a deal. He wants to return to the court asp because has already missed so much competition. Hopefully he will play IW en Miami
If Rafa plays Miami, I would like Rafa to finally win it and cross off his to do and to win list!
It’s in my wish list but of course Miami is too close to the the European clay season.
Rafa take the time you need to recover really really well. Strengthen every part of your body.
May you return completely healthy in mind body and soul.
VAMOS
McDonald just lost in 3 Nishioaka. So, he is not the player to beat Nadal when Nadal playing at 50% to 100%. It is one opportunity by noone, and there have been many (4-5) times like it at the AO. Please, don’t listen to those so-called tennis “expertise” like Boris Becker, Zverev and their ilk. They have NO idea what they are talking about. They should worry about themselves. Nadal will be back better, like many times before.
That’s right.
Tiafoe lost to khachanov as well in round 3.
Neither McDonald nor Tiafoe would have beaten Rafa if Rafa had been healthy and close to 100%.
Rafa would have demolished McDonald in aus open and Tiafoe at us open. Rafa was clearly compromised in the last two majors.
They defeated a wounded Rafa in both cases.
I am extremely hopeful that Rafa will return better and stronger.
Until then, I know Rafa will enjoy his previous time with Mery and his adorable baby Rafa.
Rafa, please take time to heal and recover.
Enjoy your time off with your beautiful family.
Mery and baby Rafa are going to have a wonderful time with you during your time off.
Come back when you are fully fit and ready.
We know it takes a lot of work to come back.
It is ok to skip the hard court season and play the clay events only.
We know you are determined and capable of rising to the top again. Vamos!
I agree with others, that it probably makes more sense for Rafa to focus on being back for the clay court season and skip Indian Wells and the Miami Open (although I’ve heard Rafa say the Indian Wells is one of his favourite tournaments). Hopefully he’ll bounce back stronger than ever and once again defy all the odds! Rest and get well Rafa!
Rafa, please take your time to get well and recover. As your ardent fans, we can wait for as long as you need to be back to your best. We would love to see you at the peak of your tennis prowess and strength at Roland Garros 2023!
Thank you for the update, Rafa. We know you will prioritize your health, supported by your family. Good luck with it. Your bravery and respect in that third set will not be forgotten. It was excruciating to witness, but you are the ultimate warrior👺Enjoy every special moment with Mery and the baby❤️
Rafa has basically said that his priorities are to play the Majors and the Masters 1000s. My view is that Indian Wells comes way too early to think that Rafa could be ready then. I agree that he should skip Miami but I think there is a chance that he would want to play Miami because its a 1000 and think he actually wants to play it. I don’t think he should skip the US Open just because its a hard court. Rafa enjoys New York and its the end of the season so why shouldn’t he play if he is healthy?
I hate to be the one to bring it up but unfortunately Rafa will drop out of the top 10 before he plays again. I blame that on the fact that Wimbledon did not award points in 2022. That was unfair on many levels to many players.
Personally I believe Rafa still has great tennis in him no matter where he ranks. The important thing now is to rest his mind and heal his body.
It isn’t fair to Rafa if that happens. Rafa might still stay in the top 10 if the others falter while Rafa recovers from his injury?
However, no one wants to meet Rafa in an early round at any of the European clay court events. Rafa still is a massive favorite on clay. 😄
Rafa’s record of over 900 consecutive weeks in the top 10 rankings will stand the test of time (as will his French open title. Record)!
I would not read too much into the rankings.
We don’t yet know when Rafa will return to the tour.
Rafa can win most clay court events even if he is not ranked at the top. Of course, getting a bye in the masters events helps.
Rafa has won Roland garros ranked lower than 4 before. In fact, Rafa was ranked 5 and had to storm through djokovic (who was ranked 1) in the 2022 French Open. 😃☀️🏆🎾 I will watch that match again on YouTube this weekend.
With all the top seeds falling at the Aussie Open, Rafa might still have a great shot at hanging onto his top 10 ranking until Monte Carlo, even if he does not play until Monte Carlo and loses his 1100 points from Acapulco and Indian Wells for his amazing performances last year. Hopefully Rafa can continue to increase his record number of consecutive weeks in the Top 10 ranking.
I am still upset that Fritz claimed to have defeated Rafa in the IW final as if he “earned it”, when Rafa was clearly hampered by a broken rib and could not hit his shots with the usual power and precision.
Don’t let your tennis ambition ruin your health. You have already had an excellent tennis career.
It’s tough, really tough🥲 Get well soon Rafa❤️
He tends to miss Miami anyway, but play Indian Wells. I suppose he’ll have to see how it goes. Hope he recovers well x.
Rest and recover well Rafa and enjoy quality time with your loved ones especially your beautiful wife and adorable son🥰
Heal well Rafa with your beautiful wife, baby son and your family. You will be missed but we will all be waiting for your return. Take good care of yourself x
If Rafa wants to play for some more years, than he should stop playing on the hard courts and focus on the clay and grass courts tournaments
Agree 100%, Cell!
Agree and Rafa can afford to only play on clay and he could win most of the clay events he plays! He does not need to be ranked high to win these events.
Please Rafa… take care and go straight to the clay season. No need to risk another stop on the hard courts.