Faraj Benlahoucine, Media365: published on Monday January 31, 2022 at 8:46 p.m.
The day after his coronation at the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal returned to his serious foot injury which almost pushed him into retirement.
The day after his triumph at the Australian Open against Daniil Medvedev, the second of his career in Melbourne, propelling him to the rank of legend in the sport for the benefit of his 21 Grand Slam titles, Rafael Nadal confided daily in spanish AS. An interview during which he returned at length to his foot injury which almost precipitated his retirement. “I thought it might be difficult to play again. Because I worked without seeing a positive evolution of my foot, with many days of frustration and difficult moments with the team. Discussions with my family as well without seeing a viable path forward.”
“At least there was a decent day”
However, this crossing of the desert subsequently gave way to hope. “But little by little, the treatments took effect. We know my problem has no solution but we had to at least try to find something that would allow me to play” he revealed about his foot problem. An embarrassment so important that it prevented him from training normally. “After almost two months I took a step forward allowing me to start training a little, moving a little more. And even if I combined the good days and the bad days, at least there was a good day” confessed the Mallorcan.
“Tennis is my passion”
This painful scenario naturally pushed him to think about retirement. A possibility swept away by a scathing setback of which he has the secret. “I love what I do, tennis is my passion but I have never feared retirement because I maintain a happy enough life outside of this sport that it is not a trauma. But hey, when you have the illusion of continuing and making daily efforts like I did during all these months, you maintain the illusion of coming back, of feeling like a player, a professional and a competitor,” said the former world number one.
Federer and Djokovic’s tribute
This obstacle course crossed by the Spaniard makes him put the greatness of his achievement into perspective: “For me, obviously winning the tournament was incredible, but I believe that seeing myself really competitive and once again a professional tennis player, being able to train and compete with the best, that feeling is just as good as capturing the title” he underlined. A speech full of humility contrasting with his entry into the pantheon. His rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, co-holders with him of the record for victories in Grand Slam tournaments until Sunday, did not did not fail to pay homage to him.
