INDIAN WELLS (AFP) – Rafael Nadal is going through renewed harm issues after his 20-0 unbeaten run to start out 2022 ended with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) defeat by Twentieth-ranked Taylor Fritz within the ATP Indian Wells Masters remaining on Sunday (March 20).
The 35-year-old Spanish celebrity was reluctant to debate the higher physique harm that hindered him in opposition to Fritz, insisting “it’s his day,” however he couldn’t disguise his disappointment and the concern about what it would imply for the clay-court season and his possibilities of a 14th French Open title.
“Honestly, I wanted to make it perfect before clay,” Nadal mentioned of a 2022 hard-court run that noticed him win an epic Australian Open remaining in opposition to Daniil Medvedev and raise the trophy in Acapulco.
He mentioned the primary months of the yr “have been very, very, very beautiful”.
“Honestly I am sad because the way I was not able to compete,” he mentioned of his incapacity to complete off the run with a fourth Indian Wells title.
“It is tough to have these feelings, especially every day, but in the final is very, very ugly, no?”
Making issues worse, the oft-injured Nadal didn’t but have a analysis of the issue that triggered him to really feel ache and shortness of breath.
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It started late in his semi-final victory over 18-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and he twice acquired therapy throughout his loss to Fritz.
“I had pain, honestly,” Nadal mentioned.
“I have problem to breathe. I don’t know if it’s something on the rib, I don’t know yet. When I’m breathing, when I’m moving it’s like a needle all the time inside here,” he mentioned, indicating his chest.
“I get dizzy a little bit because it’s painful. It’s a kind of pain that limit me a lot. Is not only about pain, I don’t feel very well because affects my breathing.”
It is the newest in a litany of accidents for Nadal, whose Australian Open triumph was his record-setting twenty first Grand Slam title.
Troubled for years with knee accidents, he noticed his 2021 season lower brief by foot ache that he feared might finish his profession.
