Rafael Nadal, one of the most successful tennis players in history, has encountered a significant setback as he falls outside the top 100 rankings for the first time in his career. The decline can be attributed to his ongoing recovery from a hip injury sustained during the Australian Open earlier this year.
Nadal’s absence from the French Open, a tournament he has dominated with a record 14 titles, resulted in the loss of the ranking points he earned from his previous victory at Roland-Garros. As a result, he has dropped from 15th to 136th in the latest rankings.
To address his hip issues, Nadal recently underwent surgery on his hip muscle after his initial recovery did not progress as expected. This decision has forced him to take a break from competitive play for approximately five months and prematurely end his season.
Despite these challenges, Nadal has announced that the upcoming season will be his last on the ATP Tour. Throughout his illustrious career, he has shown remarkable resilience in overcoming various injuries, earning admiration for his exceptional achievements on the tennis court.
Nadal’s doctor, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, remains positive about his recovery, expressing confidence that he will fully recover within the expected timeframe or possibly even sooner. Nadal’s fans and the tennis community will eagerly await his return to the court as he strives to overcome this setback and end his career on a high note.