Rafael Nadal of Spain is smiling before the exhibition match with Canada’s Felix Ogier Asim on June 24, 2022 at the Hurlingham Club in London, England. (Reuters / John Sibley)
London: When Wimbledon lays a lush carpet to welcome Rafael Nadal in the championship for the first time in three years next week, the Spaniard’s feet, not his forehand, will be scrutinized to n degrees.
Until a few days ago, few people had heard of “high frequency ablation treatment” (a treatment that heats nerves to relieve long-term pain).
But thanks to the steps he took earlier this month to treat degenerative conditions affecting the bones of his feet, he stands up at the All England Club ready to aim for the Grand Slam title. Can be number 23.
When Nadal locked up at the Australian Open in January, he didn’t win a major for 15 months, stopped working for 5 months due to chronic foot pain, and abandoned everything forever. I admitted that I had considered it.
Even in Nadaru’s most violent dreams, it is unlikely that the Spaniards could have imagined a series of events over the next six months.
Despite being routinely plagued by severe pain and discomfort in his legs, his superhuman body somehow passed him through 50 incredible sets at the Australian and French Open. Includes 14 stunning titles on Men’s Record 22-Roland Garros, his overall slam hole.
“In general, what Rafa has achieved is incredible,” Roger Federer, holder of Nadal’s great rival 20 majors, told Targets Anzeiger.
“The record I won for Pete Sampras was 14 Grand Slam titles. Now Rafa has won the French Open 14 times. It’s unbelievable. He keeps raising the bar. It’s huge. “
Thanks to its unexpected success, Nadal arrives at Wimbledon in the middle of a calendar year’s Grand Slam. This is a position he has never seen before.
The sports world will be willing to win the third round of the calendar slam-the last feat achieved by Rod Laver in 1969-the understated Mallorca Crusaders are not driven by records or numbers.
“It’s not about being the best in history, it’s not about records,” said the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champions recently.
“It likes what I do. I like playing tennis. And I like competition.
“Keeping me moving is a passion for games, living the moments that stay in me forever, and playing in front of the best crowds and the best stadiums in the world.”
During the French Open, there was a protracted fear that every match Nadal played at Roland Garros could be his last.
It is unlikely that the feeling of a finish line to his career will soon disappear with the medical intervention needed only to keep his age no longer on his side and to continue to be more and more frequent.
Much about Nadaru’s Wimbledon outlook remains uncertain.
Does he sustain distance on the smooth surface that has been the most punishing for his body? Will he face great rival Novak Djokovic in the final on July 10th? Can he leave Wimbledon with his hope of completing the Grand Slam of the calendar intact?
Of all these unknown factors, one thing is certain: thousands of fans cherish every second of the fist-pumping action he offers in court-after all. By the way, no one knows if this will be his last, hurray on the most famous stage in tennis.
