Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTennis legend Rafael Nadal, who retired in 2024 with 22 Grand Slam titles, has disclosed the significant health risks he undertook throughout his career due to a chronic foot injury. Nadal was diagnosed with the rare Mueller-Weiss syndrome after breaking his foot in the 2005 Madrid Open final, an injury he attributes to intense childhood training, which constantly threatened his career. Despite the persistent foot issue, Nadal continued to compete at the highest level, and he told the BBC that without pushing boundaries, he would have won "10 fewer Grand Slams" as he constantly questioned how long his career could last. His relentless pursuit of success led to further health complications, including tendinitis and intestinal perforations from painkiller use, and he famously used targeted anaesthetic injections to numb his leg during his final French Open victory in 2022. Nadal's revelations, following a Netflix series about his struggles, highlight his profound dedication, stating that his suffering was outweighed by his passion and happiness for the sport, as the French Open, a tournament he dominated with 14 titles, progresses. In fullRafael Nadal lifts lid on huge health risks he took during his extraordinary careerThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Rafael Nadal opens up on injury hell that nearly derailed his career
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTennis legend Rafael Nadal, who retired in 2024 with 22 Grand Slam titles, has disclosed the significant health risks he undertook throughout his career due to a chronic foot injury. Nadal was diagnosed with the rare Mueller-Weiss syndrome after breaking his foot in the 2005 Madrid Open final, an injury he attributes to intense childhood training, which constantly threatened his career. Despite the persistent foot issue, Nadal continued to compete at the highest level, and he told the BBC that without pushing boundaries, he would have won "10 fewer Grand Slams" as he constantly questioned how long his career could last. His relentless pursuit of success led to further health complications, including tendinitis and intestinal perforations from painkiller use, and he famously used targeted anaesthetic injections to numb his leg during his final French Open victory in 2022. Nadal's revelations, following a Netflix series about his struggles, highlight his profound dedication, stating that his suffering was outweighed by his passion and happiness for the sport, as the French Open, a tournament he dominated with 14 titles, progresses. In fullRafael Nadal lifts lid on huge health risks he took during his extraordinary careerThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
