After a year of retirement, Nadal unfortunately faces a new injury and has undergone surgery again.

Nadal has not appeared on the court for an entire year. During this period, he made just one short comeback—training for 45 minutes with the promising talent Iera from his tennis academy, but only on one condition. “They asked if I could play, and I was definitely happy. As long as I didn’t have to run.” After over two decades of high-intensity matches and injury challenges, Nadal’s careful treatment of his body is perfectly reasonable. However, this calm period did not last long.

On Friday, news shook the tennis world: the Spanish legend underwent surgery. The report was first revealed by journalist Christopher Clarey on the X platform and confirmed by Nadal’s team. Nadal had surgery on his right hand in Barcelona to treat severe osteoarthritis. Clarey wrote, “It’s hard not to wonder how much this has affected his career’s two-handed backhand. The procedure, called arthroplasty, is also known as joint replacement surgery.”

The official statement released with the announcement read: “Nadal underwent surgery yesterday at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona. Due to severe osteoarthritis in the right thumb carpometacarpal joint, he received surgical treatment. The operation was supervised by Nadal’s primary doctor Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro and Dr. Villaró, with Dr. Alex Lluch performing the arthroplasty aimed at relieving pain and restoring joint mobility.”

Fans are well aware of Nadal’s long history of injuries. At 19, he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome—a rare degenerative disease affecting the bones in his left foot. This issue has plagued much of his career; even during the 2022 French Open, he relied on daily anesthetic injections to manage pain yet still completed his matches.

According to insiders, Nadal’s hand problems have troubled him for quite some time. However, this time the Spanish legend chose to personally share the news, posting a photo on the X platform showing his right arm wrapped in bandages and supported in a sling.

His usual “Nadal-style humor” was not missing: “Looks like I won’t be able to play the 2026 Australian Open because of a long-standing issue. I had to have hand surgery, but I hope to recover soon.”

Despite the setback, Nadal has no immediate plans to fade away from the tennis world. He intends to appear in Jeddah on December 17 for the ATP Next Gen Finals. Although retired and openly admitting his body can no longer endure top-level competition, fans still feel heartbroken seeing him undergo surgery again due to injury.

Nadal has never been one to dwell on off-court honors, but when asked about this highest praise, his humility shone through once again. In an interview published on December 8 with Cadena SER, the 39-year-old legend was asked, “How do you feel about people still considering you the greatest Spanish athlete of all time?”

His response was simple and sincere: “The standards are set by you, but I have always been grateful. It’s a huge honor and very fulfilling. I have always just tried to do my best without thinking too much about these things. I’m lucky to have had a good environment and family, and of course, a good professional attitude and talent—that’s the truth.”

The bond between Nadal and his fans goes far beyond trophies and statistics. Over more than two decades of brilliance, he has won more than matches—he has created a symbol of spirit. “Rafa” has become synonymous with fighting, perseverance, and passion. His career is not just a record of victories, but a story of resilience that has touched millions worldwide.

As for whether he will seek that feeling again, Nadal is in no rush. On November 24, he appeared on Movistar+’s “Universo Valdano” program, speaking with Jorge Valdano and reflecting on his career from a fresh perspective. The 22-time Grand Slam champion admitted he was physically and mentally exhausted when crossing the finish line. “Through the academy, I’m still involved, and I only follow what I want to see. I don’t track tournaments daily like before; now I only watch matches or clips I’m interested in.”

Currently, Nadal’s focus is on rest and recovery after surgery. Whether he will return to the court remains uncertain—but given his past, few would dare say it’s impossible.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Huohua)