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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a shot during a match against Jack Sock of the United States on Day 5 during the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center on August 4, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a shot during a match against Jack Sock of the United States on Day 5 during the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center on August 4, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is back to training in full swing. He called off his 2021 season prematurely two months ago because of a chronic left foot injury, which resurfaced during the semifinals of this year’s French Open.
The Spaniard underwent treatment last month, which forced him to be on crutches for a few weeks. However, Nadal is back to training at his academy in Mallorca and seems to be recovering quickly ahead of this 2022 Australian Open return.
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Rafael Nadal back to practice courts
Early today, Rodrigo Meza, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy, filmed Nadal practicing on the court. In the footage, Nadal, dressed in an orange sleeveless t-shirt and white shorts, is ripping his trademark forehand with fierce intensity.
@RafaelNadal via rodrimezaa_ IG Story 12 October pic.twitter.com/J4YpRDbPP7
— Yvonne 🏴 (@woody16668) October 12, 2021
It’s a reason to cheer for the fans, who are eagerly waiting for Nadal’s return. In another video, Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya is standing next to his pupil and picking balls off the court. Moya, the 1998 French Open champion, has been Nadal’s primary coach since the beginning of 2017.
@RafaelNadal via rodrimezaa_ IG Story 12 October pic.twitter.com/O4WdRskxv2
— Yvonne 🏴 (@woody16668) October 12, 2021
Nadal’s has won 5 Grand Slam titles since joining forces with Moya and has also ended as year-end No.1 ranked player twice during the period.
Nadal’s injury woes started after losing to Novak Djokovic at the French Open. The 35-year-old subsequently withdrew from the Wimbledon Championships and the Tokyo Olympics.
@RafaelNadal via rodrimezaa_ IG Story 12 October pic.twitter.com/QztBD5gLZr
— Yvonne 🏴 (@woody16668) October 12, 2021
While he returned to compete at the 2021 Citi Open, Nadal continued to experience pain in his left foot. Ultimately, he declared an end to his 2021 season ahead of the US Open.
During his truncated 2021 season, Nadal won two titles, the Barcelona Open and the Italian Open. It was the first time since 2016 that Nadal’s season ended without winning a single Grand Slam trophy.
However, since the beginning of his career, Nadal has built a reputation of successfully bouncing back after an injury layoff. But with the Spaniard in his mid-thirties, the recovery process is going to take longer.
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