In a world of pain: Rafael Nadal's career-long battle with injuries

Rafael Nadal on Sunday withdrew from the Australian Open with a muscle tear after he played his first tournament in almost a year.

The 22-time Grand Slam title winner has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including missing 11 majors through a series of knee, feet, ankle, abdomen and wrist problems.

AFP Sport looks at Nadal's history of pain:

2003: Elbow

Two years after his professional debut, Nadal experienced his first physical problems which forced him to withdraw from the French Open after picking up an elbow injury in training.

2004: Left foot

Just 18, Nadal misses the French Open and Wimbledon due to a broken bone in his foot.

2009: Knee

In June, Nadal, having already experienced a first ever loss at the French Open, suffers tendinitis in his knees, depriving him of the opportunity to defend the Wimbledon title he had won 12 months earlier in an epic final against Roger Federer.

In September, Nadal is knocked out of the US Open semi-finals admitting to playing with an abdominal tear.

2012: Knee

Tendonitis in his left knee forces Nadal out of the Olympics where he was the defending champion. The Spanish star also sits out the US Open due to issues with his left knee.

2014: Back

Despite a back problem, Nadal battles to the Australian Open final in January where he loses to Stan Wawrinka.

In July, a right wrist injury forces him to miss the US Open.

2016: Wrist

A left wrist injury forces Nadal to withdraw from the French Open, where he is already a nine-time champion, before the third round.

2021: Foot

In August, Nadal ends his season early due to yet more left foot problems and explains he has been suffering from Mueller-Weiss syndrome for years. This condition affects one of the bones in the foot, causing