Rafael Nadal’s injury in Indian Wells was more serious than expected. After undergoing extensive tests at Dr Cotorro’s clinic, the Spanish phenomenon discovered he sustained a fractured rib during the semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz.
The former world number 1 will have to stay out for at least a month and will certainly miss the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo. For the first time in his career, his ‘campaign’ to approach Roland Garros will not start from the Principality.
A real shame for the 35-year-old from Manacor, who left everyone speechless at this start of the season. Rafa won the first 20 games played in 2022, as well as having won the Australian Open to general amazement. Thanks to the triumph at Melbourne Park, Nadal overtook Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time rankings of the Majors.
The Iberian has also become the fourth man in history to have won all Slams at least twice (along with Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson). In a recent interview with ‘AS’, David Ferrer analyzed the Majorcan’s chances of recovering in time for the Barcelona ATP.
Ferrer on Rafael Nadal
“I am calm, really. I think Rafael Nadal has time to recover before the gravel tour,” said Ferrer. In the same interview, Ferrer also spoke about Carlos Alcaraz, claiming that he has “options to win” at the Barcelona Open.
The former World No. 3 player lauded Alcaraz for his performances at the Australian Open and Rio Open and stated that “winning a tournament in this category [ATP-500 at the Barcelona Open] won’t come to him again.”
“He has options to win. Already in Australia, he was among the best, he won a 500… Winning a tournament in this category won’t come to him again,” added the former Spanish player. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are undoubtedly the most loved players on the men’s tour.
Over the years, the two, along with Djokovic, have dominated the game of tennis like no other player in history. Even though the two aren’t playing in the Miami Open, their names have not gone anywhere. Even though there were a number of engaging questions, one question that took the maximum light was, “If you were in CSI: Miami, what tennis player would be your partner to solve crimes”.
Answering the questions were Nick Kyrgios and two players who have been in limelight recently; Thanasi Kokkinakis and Sebastian Korda. After giving a lot of thought to the question, Nick Kyrgios chose Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut as his partner to solve crimes.
