Rafael Nadal set to be out of action for  6 weeks with injury

21 time grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal will be on the sidelines for a while now as the Spanish international has been hit by an injury.

Rafael Nadal said on Tuesday that the Spaniard will be out of action for at least four to six weeks as the player has suffered a stress fracture of the rib. 

“This is not good news and I did not expect this,” tweeted Nadal, who will miss the start of one of his favourite clay court season. The 35-year-old will be unable to compete in the Monte Carlo and Barcelona tournaments, but he may be able to compete in the Madrid Masters on May 1-8. His main focus will be on staying in shape for the French Open, which starts on May 22. Nadal has won the Roland Garros title 13 times.

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The injury occurred on Saturday during the Indian Wells Masters semi-final. Nadal went on to lose to American Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final on Sunday, capping off a perfect 20-0 start to 2022 that included a win at the Australian Open. During Fritz’s defeat, he required treatment twice.

Nadal tweeted that he had undergone medical checks on his return to Spain.

“As it turns out, I have a stress fracture in one of my ribs and will be out for 4 to 6 weeks,”

Nadal said.

Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev in what was a final to remember in Mebourne after Novak Djokovic who was World number 1 at the time was deported from Australia over his Covid vaccination status.

That victory gave him the prestigious title which was also the men’s record 21st Grand Slam title, moving him ahead of the other two greats Djokovic and Roger Federer.