Rafael Nadal had revealed that he needed to have his left foot numbed.© AFP
Rafael Nadal said on Saturday that for the first time in 18 months he has overcome the crippling foot pain that threatened to push him to the brink of retirement. Nadal captured his 14th French Open and record-lengthening 22nd major earlier this month to place himself halfway through the first men’s Grand Slam calendar since 1969. However, in the wake of his Paris win, he revealed that he needed his left foot numb to continue competing. He then underwent “pulsed radiofrequency stimulation,” a treatment aimed at reducing nerve pain.
“I can walk normally most days, almost every day. That’s the most important thing for me,” the 36-year-old Spaniard said at Wimbledon on Saturday.
“When I wake up, I don’t have the pain I’ve had for the past year and a half, so I’m pretty happy about that.
“And second, practice. For the past two weeks, I haven’t had a day of these horrible days where I can’t move at all. The feeling and overall feelings are positive.”
Nadal is a two-time champion at Wimbledon, but his last All England Club title came 12 years ago.
This year he is at number two, which at least gives him the advantage of avoiding old rival and top class Novak Djokovic until the final.
The Spaniard has not warmed up on a grass pitch, preferring instead to focus on relieving his foot pain and then practice on the surface in Mallorca.
“In 2003 (his debut year) I never thought I would have a chance to win Wimbledon,” he said.
promoted
“Today it’s a different story. I had some success here.”
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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