Rafael Nadal, who won a record 22 Grand Slam titles, has pulled out of the Wimbledon tennis tournament due to a hamstring strain. This is the first time since 1931 that a person has withdrawn from the oldest Grand Slam tournament before a semi-final or final.
“I made my decision because I believe I can’t win two matches in these conditions,” Nadal told a news conference at the All England Club. The correct speed, is that I can’t do the normal speed to serve.”
His physical weaknesses plagued him just a day before he faced Nick Kyrgios in the semi-finals.
Prior to this setback, the tennis player had missed 11 Grand Slam events before his debut in 2003. He has been out during the Slam five times now.
Nadal’s first injury-enforced absence came in 2003 as a 16-year-old when he hurt his elbow during training and had to miss the French Open.
The 36-year-old has been forced to sit out at least one tournament every year of his career.
Nadal has suffered a series of knee and leg injuries, as well as hamstrings, bridges, a wrist tendon tear, and abdominal muscle strain, among other issues.
He briefly played with clenched fingers after accidentally burning himself in a restaurant in 2011.
Despite missing so many events, Nadal’s incredible desire to win has led him to 92 titles and 1,063 victories on the tour.
When he failed to reach the Grand Slam semi-finals in 2015 and 2016, many wondered whether his career was coming to an end, but he has since won eight more Slam titles.
Nadal has gotten used to more adversities in the past year.
A left foot problem forced him to miss Wimbledon, the US Open and the Olympics in Tokyo last year.
A rib fracture ended a 20-match winning run in this year’s Indian Wells final, which included the Australian Open title.
His 14th French Open win in June was only possible after his left leg was anesthetized to ease chronic pain.
He said soon after his Paris win that he would undergo radio-frequency numbing pains in his leg.
Nadal then admitted that his career was in limbo.
Meanwhile, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also praised Nadal’s performance in Wimbledon 2022. Tendulkar lauded Nadal’s never-give-up mentality and described him as a “super competitor”. He wrote on Twitter, “A super competitor who never gives up despite all the adversities. Amazing game of tennis last evening @RafaelNadal. Brilliant to watch the way you compete every time on the court.”
Tendulkar had also praised Nadal for pointing to Alexander Zverev during the semi-finals of the recent French Open. “The humility and concern shown by Nadal is what makes him so special,” Tendulkar wrote, comforting the injured Zverev, along with a photo of Nadal.
Nadal was bidding to win her 23rd Grand Slam title and was second on the all-time list for most Grand Slam singles titles, on par with Serena Williams. Margaret Court is the leader of 24 titles.
(with AFP input)