LIST: Rafael Nadal injuries affecting his participation at Grand Slams

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2023 Spain's Rafael Nadal before receiving medical attention during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald of the U.S.

FILE– Spain’s Rafael Nadal before receiving medical attention during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald of the U.S in the Australian Open. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

The following is a list of major injuries Rafa Nadal has suffered during his 21-year career that have caused him to miss or withdraw from Grand Slams:

2003: Elbow injury

Nadal injures his elbow in a fall while training and is forced to postpone his French Open debut.

2004: Stress fracture in ankle

Nadal’s French Open debut is delayed yet again after a left ankle fracture forces him to skip most of the claycourt swing as well as Wimbledon.

2006: Foot injury

Nadal is forced to skip the Australian Open having not played since winning the Madrid Masters in October 2005. He returns to action in February.

2009: Tendonitis in the knees

Nadal suffers his first loss at the French Open to eventual runner-up Robin Soderling and then reveals he was playing with knee pain for several months due to tendonitis in both knees, which also forces him to miss Wimbledon.

2012: Tendonitis in the knee

After a second round loss at Wimbledon, Nadal opts not to defend his Olympic title in London due to tendonitis. He eventually sits out the rest of the season, missing the U.S. Open.

2013: Stomach virus

Nadal delays his comeback after skipping the Australian Open due to a stomach virus which he said did not let him practice in the build-up to the year’s first Grand Slam.

2014: Wrist injury, appendix surgery

Nadal is unable to defend his U.S. Open crown due to a wrist injury. He makes a comeback in September but ends his season a month later to undergo surgery for his appendix.

2016: Wrist injury

Spain’s Rafael Nadal gives a press conference to annonce his withdrawal from the French Open at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on May 27, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL MEDINA

Nadal withdraws midway through the French Open due to a wrist injury which also forces him to skip Wimbledon. He makes his return at the Rio Olympics where he wins a gold medal in the doubles.

2020: COVID-19 pandemic

Nadal is unable to defend his U.S. Open crown for a second time in his career as he opts not to travel for the American swing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Foot injury

Nadal skips the Olympics and Wimbledon after consultations with his team in a bid to prolong his career, before ending his season 10 days before the U.S. Open due to a niggling left foot issue that had been troubling him for a year.

2022: Abdominal tear

Tennis – Wimbledon July 6, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during his quarter final match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Nadal reaches the semi-finals at Wimbledon but withdraws ahead of his highly-anticipated showdown with Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal strain.

2023: Hip injury

Nadal does not play a single match after his second-round Australian Open exit and misses the entire claycourt swing due to a hip injury.

He is forced to miss the French Open which he has won a record 14 times in his career, including the 2022 title.

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