Worrying footage of Rafa Nadal emerges ahead of Wimbledon
Worrying images of Rafa Nadal on crutches have emerged just three weeks out from Wimbledon as the Spaniard undergoes treatment for his persistent foot injury.
Nadal stunned the tennis world to play through the pain of a 'numb' foot and win his 14th French Open title and 22nd grand slam trophy.
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The Spaniard's chronic foot injury necessitated painkilling injections throughout the tournament, to the extent that Nadal claimed his foot had been numb for part of the Roland Garros final.
The ongoing pain in Nadal's foot is reportedly due to Mueller-Weiss syndrome, which was relieved partially with surgery in 2021 but continues to trouble the 36-year-old.
Nadal admitted he would do everything he could to be fit for Wimbledon, but wouldn't play with the same numbing injections as he did throughout Roland Garros.
With plenty of talk around Nadal's career coming to an end, many fans are concerned it could be the last time they see him at SW19.
And in a worrying sight, Nadal emerged in Mallorca on crutches after undergoing a procedure to help his foot only two days after his 22nd grand slam trophy.
The images only further raised concern over whether Nadal would be fit in time for Wimbledon.
Despite being in some obvious pain, Nadal stopped to sign some memorabilia for a number of fans.
@RafaelNadal is going back to Mallorca after undergoing the first session of the foot treatment in Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/7IltW0xllV
— 9-7 in the 5th (@97InThe5th) June 7, 2022
Rafa Nadal con muletas vuelve a casa tras visitarse con el doctor Cotorro. Solo dos días después de ganar su 14o Roland Garros. Sobre las sensaciones, “no tengo sensaciones”, responde entre risas @JugoneslaSexta @elchiringuitotv pic.twitter.com/K0KdC5RUGC
— Marc Fuster (@mfuster) June 7, 2022
Earlier, Nadal talked about his procedure and how it would help his foot ahead.
"It's going to be a radio frequency injection on the nerve and trying to burn a little bit the nerve and create the impact that I have now on the nerve for a long period of time," he said.
"That's what we are going to try. If that works, I'm going to keep going. If that does not work, then it's going to be another story.
"And then I am going to ask myself if I am ready to do a major thing without being sure that things are going the proper way, for example.
"A major surgery that doesn't guarantee me to be able to be competitive again and take a long time to be back (is a risk). So let's do it step by step, as I did all my tennis career."
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Nadal made it clear after his French Open win that he would only play Wimbledon if he was relatively pain free.
"I am going to be in Wimbledon if my body is ready to be in Wimbledon. Wimbledon is not a tournament that I want to miss," he said at the press conference.
Nadal added that he would wait to make a decision on whether he could play Wimbledon after treatment.
"Wimbledon is a priority, always has been a priority. If I'm able to play with anti-inflammatories, yes," Nadal said.
"To play with anaesthetic injections, I do not want to put myself in that position again. It can happen once but no it's not the philosophy of life I want to follow.
"Let's see. I am always a positive guy and always expect the things are going the right way. Let's be confident, let's be positive and let's see what's going on."
Despite his foot injury, Nadal received worldwide praise for his historic triumph.
Both Roger Federer and Serena Williams reacted to his 22nd grand slam title.
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