Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has spoken about the injury hell that plagued his 2022 season, and suggested that next year may be his last on the ATP circuit.
On paper, it was a momentous year for the 36-year-old, who in January came from two sets down in the Australian Open final to beat Daniil Medvedev and claim a record breaking 22nd Grand Slam title. He extended that number to 23 by winning a 14th French Open crown in June.
But his build-up to the latter triumph had been troubled by a rib injury which saw him struggle through a final defeat in Indian Wells to Taylor Fritz. He then played in Paris amid pain numbing injections in his foot.
And with a calendar Slam on the cards, Nadal was forced to withdraw from his semi-final with Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon after picking up an abdominal injury. And speaking to Marca, he's admitted that he "really doesn't see" his career reaching 2024.
Referencing his French Open win, he explained: "From then on the year has been a disaster, because I ruptured my abdominal again the week before the US Open but I didn't I wanted to say anything at the time because I'm tired of telling sorrows," he said.
The Spaniard did however claim the highs outweighed the lows in 2022: "When I look back on this year, the difficult moments and the injuries will fade into the background and I will have won two Grand Slam titles, so the final balance is fantastic and very exciting, although also very suffered," he added.
Nadal's long-term tennis rival, and friend, Roger Federer, retired in September in an emotional Laver Cup farewell, and following that event Nadal was asked about whether he could emulate the Swiss star by playing beyond 40. The 36-year-old, who also celebrated the birth of his first child this year, expressed doubts.
“It looks difficult, honestly, but at the same time, when I was 28 or 29, for me was super difficult to imagine myself playing at the age of 36, and here we are - In a high position on the ranking and being competitive. You never know what can happen.
"It always depends on different facts. Some of them you are able to control, and others you don't have the chance to control."
