Dr. Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro has been involved in Rafael Nadal’s career for years, helping his compatriot overcome numerous injuries and extend his career. Rafa has been struggling with an abdominal injury since Wimbledon, retiring at the All England Club and suffering an early loss at the US Open.
Nadal has not played singles matches since New York, hoping to change that in the rest of the season in Paris and Turin. Cotorro revealed that Rafa feels better, spends time with his family and works on his game before his return.
Nadal has experienced brilliant results and a series of setbacks in 2022. The 36-year-old is second on the ATP Race list behind Carlos Alcaraz, has won two major titles and has beaten Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Nadal made an incredible comeback at the start of the season after missing the second part of the previous one.
He lifted his first Australian Open crown in 13 years and had 20 consecutive wins. Rafa broke a rib in Indian Wells and had to skip Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The Spaniard did not play well in Madrid and Rome, and more problems arose for him ahead of Roland Garros.
Battling foot pain, Rafa needed injections to endure best-of-five efforts in Paris, winning seven matches and securing his 22nd Grand Slam crown. Hoping for more at Wimbledon, Nadal experienced a serious abdominal injury, dealt with a seven-millimeter tear and still won five matches.
Rafael Nadal should return to the court in the coming weeks.
Rafa withdrew before the semi-final clash following an epic quarter-final duel against Taylor Fritz, going home and hoping to recover before the US Open.
As it turned out, there was no time for that, and Nadal suffered a fourth-round loss to Frances Tiafoe. After missing the chance to become world no. 1 again, Rafa returned to Mallorca to spend time with his wife and a new member of the family as they became parents for the first time.
Nadal flew to London and competed alongside Roger Federer in the Laver Cup, returning home the next day and not playing in the weeks before. If all goes well, we will see him in action in Paris and Turin, still looking for no.
1 honor for the sixth time. “Rafa is fine, delighted with his paternity. Once that situation is fulfilled, which logically takes you out of the day to day, he is training well and following the end-of-season schedule.
His secret lies in hard work, passion for sport, trying to improve every day and outstanding tennis physical qualities. Rafa is a historical player for our sport and he continues to give us joy”, said Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro.
