“Looks like I won't be able to play at the Australian Open in January”

Rafael Nadal has not played tennis for more than a year, since he stepped on the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, for the duel with the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup. Even though he was holding the racket in his left hand on the field, the Spanish athlete had a significant problem with a joint in his right hand and needed surgery.

Rafael Nadal, arthroplasty performed in Barcelona: “I hope to be ok soon”

According to L'Equipe, Nadal underwent surgery at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona under the supervision of Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, his doctor, and Dr. Vilaro. The arthroplasty performed by Dr. Alex Lluch was aimed at eliminating pain and restoring the mobility of the trapezometacarpal joint.

“It looks like I won't be able to play at the Australian Open in January“, Nadal joked on Instagram. “I had to go through an operation on my hand for a problem that has been bothering me for years, but I hope to be ok soon,” he added.

Obviously, Nadal was not planning to play at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of next year, but almost 3 months ago it was rumored that the “Matador” could return to the court for an exhibition tour with Roger Federer, his rival and friend.

“I've been playing a lot lately, trying to stay in shape. I know Rafa is open to playing some tennis. Maybe we could do a tour together. Maybe we could create a tour, call it the Fedal Tour. That would be great“, Federer said in an interview for CNBC, quoted by L'Equipe.

“We have been discussing for some time the possibility of playing a demonstration. But I saw him this summer and when I asked him when he last played tennis, he said it was in November so he is not ready,” the Swiss added.