Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal has undergone keyhole surgery to deal with a left hip injury that ruled him out of the French Open.
The 36-year-old, who plans to retire after the 2024 season, suffered the injury during the Australian Open in January and has been absent from competitive play since. Despite practicing in recent weeks, Nadal was not fit enough to compete in tournaments.
The results of the surgery in Barcelona will be announced on Nadal’s 37th birthday today [Saturday]. Last month, Nadal announced his absence from the French Open, the first time he had missed the event in 19 years. He expressed his goal of prioritizing his physical condition for his final season in 2024.
Nadal’s incredible career includes 14 men’s singles titles at Roland Garros and 22 Grand Slam singles titles overall, tied for the record with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. His absence from various tournaments earlier this year also led to a drop in his world rankings, with Nadal currently ranked 15th.
Nadal’s spokesman, Benito Perez Barbadello, confirmed the surgery and said three doctors participated in the procedure.
