Tennis great Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal has revealed the extraordinary physical toll behind his legendary tennis career, admitting he spent years competing through serious injuries in order to stay at the top of the sport.
According to BBC Sport on Friday, in a new Netflix documentary series, the 22-time Grand Slam champion reflected on the sacrifices he made to extend his career and maximise his success.
“I’ve had to make decisions about my health, where you are on the borderline between right or wrong. “But if I hadn’t explored all that, I probably would have had 10 fewer Grand Slams. I’m not saying one or two, I’m saying 10 or 12. This is the reality,” he said.
Nadal burst onto the scene in 2005 by winning the French Open on his debut, defeating Roger Federer in the semi-finals before claiming the title at just 19 years old. But he says that the same year also marked the beginning of long-term physical issues.
