Rafael Nadal set for surgery over long-term injury as retirement looms

Rafael Nadal is set to undergo surgery to help him return from his long-term injury issues as retirement looms for one of the greatest players of all time.

The 36-year-old has not played since January 18 due to a nasty hip flexor injury and recently confirmed that 2024 is likely to be his final year before retirement.

His injuries ruled him out of this year’s French Open – where he was hoping to return – and he’s set to miss ‘the next few months’, including Wimbledon.

Nadal has previously said that he will look to return to action later this year for the Davis Cup and according to new reports in Spain he will undergo an arthroscopy on the iliopsoas of his left leg.

‘The hip injury that I picked up in Australia has not improved how I would have liked,’ Nadal said last month.

‘We’ve been working really hard every day to try and make it better and towards certain goals, but ultimately I won’t be able to play at Roland Garros. 

‘After many years playing there, you can imagine how much of a difficult decision it’s been for me. This isn’t a decision I’ve made, it’s a decision my body has made. I’m not going to be playing for the next few months.

‘I want to be thankful for all the good things that have happened to me. I can’t keep demanding more and more from my body because there will be a time when my body says ‘That’s enough’… It will be a hard process [to return] and will require a lot of effort.’

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