BARCELONA, Spain — Rafael Nadal has undergone surgery to treat pain and regain mobility in his right hand, the retired tennis great said Friday.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who plays left-handed, said in a X message that he had been working on the issue ‘for a long time’.
Nadal accompanied the social media post with a photo of himself with his right arm bandaged and in a sling. He also joked that he “won’t be able to play the Australian Open”, next year’s first major.
The surgery was “aimed at relieving pain and restoring mobility” to the joint at the base of his right thumb, according to a separate statement from Nadal’s representative. The operation was performed in a private clinic in Barcelona.
The 39-year-old Nadal retired from tennis in November 2024, eventually giving up hope that he would be able to continue his immensely successful career after suffering several injuries.
In May, Nadal said at a ceremony celebrating his record 14 French Open titles in Paris that he had not touched a racket in the six months since his last professional match, a loss to Spain at the Davis Cup 13 months ago.
Last month, a video circulated of him hitting balls with professional player Alexandra Eala at Nadal’s academy on his home island of Mallorca.
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