Nadal will be out for another five months after undergoing psoas and hip surgery
Absent at Roland Garros for the first time in 18 years, Rafael Nadal underwent surgery on Friday night at the Teknon Clinic in Barcelona. As reported by his media environment, he will need five months of recovery, for which, in principle, he could not reappear in the Davis Cup Finals, from November 21 to 26.. That was one of the hypotheses raised by the 14-time champion in Paris when he announced that 2024 will be his last active year.
The two and a half hour arthroscopic intervention of his left psoas tendon injury was carried out by doctors Marc Philippon, Jaume Vilaró and Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro. “The surgery has been positive.. It consisted of cleaning the fibrotic and degenerated areas of the tendon both proximally and distally, as well as suturing it to adequately reinforce it.. In a second period, an old injury to the labrum of his left hip was also regularized, which will surely help the better evolution of the tendon, “says the medical report.
Dr. Ruiz-Cotorro was in Paris this Saturday, accompanied by Benito Pérez Barbadillo, head of the Nadal dam, to give more details: “Every time we demanded a load, it evolved progressively, but when that load was greater, the tendon did not respond because i wasn't strong enough. That's why we've gotten into surgery. It gives you the security of seeing what is there,” he explained to a group of Spanish journalists, before approaching other international media.. “We have tried all the conservative treatment options. When the situation does not work, you have to make other decisions. We are happy with the result.”
without haste
On Nadal's sporting future, he added: “Rush is never a good companion. Time is not pressing us and the season in those five months will be finished. For an athlete it is important to fight for goals. All that remains of the tendon is healthy and regenerates. You have to give it time”. Soon he will start cycling and swimming. Then there will be a healing period in the next six weeks..
Nadal, who turns 37 this Saturday, has only played four matches this year, the last of which was in the second round of the Australian Open, where he lost to the American Makenzie McDonald.. Injured in the psoas in that match, he had planned to reappear in the clay season, but he failed to recover and after successively announcing his absence in the different tournaments where he was going to participate, he called a press conference to announce his withdrawal from Roland Garros and the intention to say goodbye to the slopes next year.