‘A miracle for any normal person’ – Rafael Nadal’s injury defiance ‘spectacular’, says doctor

Rafael Nadal’s doctor, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, admits his star patient’s ability to defy injury “would be a miracle for any normal person”. Nadal has twice defied a chronic foot problem in 2022 to win the Australian Open and then the French Open, while he also suffered a stress fracture in his rib prior to Roland-Garros.

Ad/> As he pursued a record-extending 14th title in Paris, whispers spread that he was set to retire after the tournament. Instead, after winning his 22nd Grand Slam with an «asleep» left foot, he vowed to “keep fighting” and laid out his ambitions to play at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Wimbledon‘I think so’ – Toni Nadal optimistic over Rafa's Wimbledon participation29 MINUTES AGO He underwent treatment on the affected nerves in his foot on Tuesday, with the Spaniard’s medical team hoping he can return to the court as early as this weekend. He is recovering in Mallorca and was spotted on crutches getting out of a car on Wednesday.

“The objective is that this does not last any longer and that he can play Wimbledon," Ruiz-Cotorro told El Partidazo de Cope in Spain. Nadal admitted to Eurosport in Melbourne that he had doubts “every single day” about whether he could play again as he battled persistent injury.

But his latest major title in the French capital on Sunday saw him move two clear of long-term rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the all-time race – leaving him in pole position to retire with the most Slams in the men’s game. ‘I think he will be at Wimbledon’ – Toni Nadal bullish over nephew’s injury Rittner full of praise for ‘dominant’ Swiatek, but grass provides a big challenge “It seems to me a spectacular thing, it would be a miracle for any normal person, but he is able to do it because he