BREAKING: Rafael Nadal undergoes surgery!

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

A 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal is undergoing arthroscopic surgery on Friday night to examine the left psoas muscle. While his rivals are battling at Roland Garros, Rafa is doing everything to take the hip pain away and compete injury-free in 2024.

Nadal has not played since the Australian Open, injuring his left hip in the second round against Mackenzie McDonald and missing four months. The veteran has failed to recover, skipping nine tournaments and announcing his farewell tour in the next season.

The Spaniard has had many setbacks with injuries, battling them and remaining a Major contender for almost two decades. Despite the issues with his body, everything looked good for Nadal a year ago. The veteran led the ATP Race after conquering the Australian Open and Roland Garros, collecting 22 Majors and looking good to become world no.

1 at 36! Instead, he experienced an abdominal injury at Wimbledon and withdrew ahead of the semi-final. Rafa revealed a seven-millimeter abdominal tear and never reached that level again.

Rafael Nadal is undergoing surgery on his hip on Friday night.

The Spaniard scored three wins at the US Open before losing to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, still feeling the pain and staying away from the court for two months.

Nadal could not find the rhythm in November after an extended break, losing four consecutive matches for the first time in 13 years! Rafa embraced an off-season, hoping for a fresh start in 2023. Instead, he has played only four encounters this year, losing three and sealing his fate in the top-10 after Indian Wells!

Not feeling at his best, Rafa gave everything while seeking the Australian Open title defense. He overpowered the young Briton Jack Draper in the first round and faced Mackenzie McDonald in the second. The American scored a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 triumph and delivered the Spaniard's earliest loss at Majors since 2016.

Rafa injured his left hip in the second set's closing stages, refusing to retire and giving his 120% in the third. However, he suffered a late break to propel the rival over the top and drop almost 2000 ATP points. After further checks, Nadal revealed a Grade 2 iliopsoas injury that will ruin the finishing stages of his incredible career.

Rafa plans to embrace his final run in 2024, returning to the events he likes and eager to end his glorious career on his terms. After four months of constant setbacks, Nadal underwent surgery that should provide improvements and make him injury-free again.