MADRID: Rafael Nadal’s keyhole surgery on his injured hip was “positive” but he will require a five-month recovery period before playing again, his spokesman said Saturday.
The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Saturday, could in theory be back in time for the Davis Cup finals in November.
However, it is likely he will sit out the rest of the season before resuming in 2024 which he has already said will be the last year of his career.
“The surgery was positive,” said his spokesman of the procedure which was carried out in Barcelona.
“The normal recovery process is estimated at five months.”
Nadal said last month that the hip injury had not healed as well as he had hoped and therefore he was taking more time out of the sport.
The Spaniard missed the ongoing French Open, which he has won 14 times, for the first time since 2004.
He will also sit out Wimbledon, where he is a two-time champion, next month.
Nadal had hoped the injury he suffered in a second round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January would heal in six weeks.
While he recovers, old rival Novak Djokovic has the chance to break out of the tie for 22 majors by winning a third French Open.
On Friday, Djokovic reached the last 16 in Paris for the 14th successive year and will face Juan Pablo Virallas, the 94th-ranked Peruvian, on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Nadal faces ‘five months recovery’ after keyhole surgery on hip
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Nadal faces ‘five months recovery’ after keyhole surgery on hip
- The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Saturday, could in theory be back in time for the Davis Cup finals in November
- Nadal said last month that the hip injury had not healed as well as he had hoped and therefore he was taking more time out of the sport
Sabalenka says Serena return would be ‘cool’ after great refuses to rule it out
- The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, a 44-year-old mother-of-two, has not competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open
- Sabalenka said: “I heard that she’s enjoying her life, and whatever makes her happy, I’m happy for her”
MELBOURNE: World number one Aryna Sabalenka said it would be “cool” to see Serena Williams return to tennis after the American great refused to rule it out when asked, and instead replied: “I don’t know. I’m just going to see what happens.”
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, a 44-year-old mother-of-two, has not competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open.
But she re-entered the tennis anti-doping testing pool in December, setting off the rumor mill, only to deny that she was making a comeback.
She was questioned about the prospect again on television show “Today” on Wednesday and while not confirming any plans, would also not rule it out.
“I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now,” Williams said.
Pressed on whether that was a yes or no, she replied: “That’s not a yes or a no. I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”
Asked why she had re-entered the drug-testing program, Williams said: “Did I re-enter? I didn’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this.”
Williams’ sister Venus played at the ongoing Australian Open in Melbourne aged 45 after being handed a wildcard and was knocked out in the first round.
Venus also competed at tournaments in Auckland and Hobart after returning to tennis in July after almost two years away.
Asked about the prospect of Serena returning, Australian Open finalist Sabalenka said she had not spoken to anyone about it.
“I heard that she’s enjoying her life, and whatever makes her happy, I’m happy for her,” she said.
The Belarusian, who is into a fourth straight Melbourne final, added: “If she wants to come back, that’s her decision. It’s going to be fun to see her back on tour.
“She’s got the personality, and she’s a fun one. It will be cool.”
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, beaten by Sabalenka in their Melbourne semifinal, said it was the first she had heard about it, but said it would be “amazing for the sport.”
“She’s such a great champion and achieved so much, did so much for our sport and been an inspiration for women around the world,” she added.
- ‘No doubt’ -
During the Australian Open, former world number one Jim Courier, now a commentator, noted how onerous it was for athletes to be on the anti-doping testing pool.
Once they are, they need to provide information about where and when they are available to give samples.
They need to complete testing for six months before being allowed to return to competition.
“No person that doesn’t have intentions to play professional tennis is going to put themselves in that list, especially someone who has as much experience doing it as Serena Williams,” Courier said.
“Serena denied (in December) she’s coming back, but I think unless she gets injured there is no doubt she’s going to play somewhere at some point.
“Whether that’s the mixed doubles at the US Open, whether that’s doubles with her sister somewhere, whether it’s singles, only she knows.
“But there’s no other way to interpret that.”
The Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair and three Olympic gold medals.
