Rafael Nadal faces a possible five months of recovery time after a hip muscle operation to fix the problem which has kept him off the courts for nearly six months.
The Spaniard celebrated a sombre 37th birthday in a Barcelona hospital bed after the Friday operation.
“Everything has gone well with an arthroscopy on the left psoas tendon that has kept me out of competition since January,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion posted on social media on Saturday.
“An old injury to the labrum of my left hip was also regularised, which will surely help the better evolution (healing) of the (problem) tendon.”
Nadal said that he will begin rehab immediately in hopes of returning to tennis as quickly as possible, but he warned:
“The normal recovery process they tell me is 5 months, if all goes well.
“Once again thank you for all the support you have shown me and that you show me every day.
“Today, also, on my birthday; not the desired or dreamed place but that’s life.
THANK YOU.”
Main photo:- Australian Open 2023 Injured Rafa Nadal (ESP) loses second round match by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
