Defending champion and top seed Nadal was knocked out by American Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets in the second round on Wednesday (January 18). This is the third consecutive Grand Slam he has exited with an injury, having injured his abdomen at the Wimbledon Championships last year and aggravated the same injury at the US Open during his defeat to Frances Tiafoe.
At the Australian Open, Nadal seemed to have sustained a hip injury. The Spaniard revealed in his post-match press conference that he had been dealing with some discomfort in his hip in the days leading up to the Melbourne Major. He also reported that he was unsure how serious the injury was or how long the recovery would take.
Corretja, however, expects Nadal to continue his career and does not see him retiring after the 2023 French Open, as it has been rumored.
Though the former World No. 1 has had to deal with several injury issues over the last six months, Corretja feels that these injuries are only a little step back and he needs time to recover.
What’s next for Rafael Nadal following Australian Open 2023 exit?
Injuries to his knees, elbows and left wrist have been a constant hindrance to Rafael Nadal throughout his career. His recent injury woes look to have impacted his level of performance on the tennis court, as the World No. 2 has managed just one win from his previous six matches.
The 36-year-old even admitted that he felt “destroyed mentally” after the latest setback. Further tests will reveal how serious his new injury is, which will dictate what his recovery period will be.
The Spaniard will turn 37 soon and his best days might be behind him. However, he refuses to give in to his injuries and bow out.
The French Open, Nadal’s favorite tournament is the next major on the tennis calendar and if he can shake off his recent injuries, the Spaniard is likely to still be the favorite to win that Grand Slam.
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