Nadal intends to play Wimbledon as foot injury improves

[June 18, 2022] PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain (Reuters) -Rafa Nadal said on Friday that he intends to compete at Wimbledon later this month when he will attempt to win a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title.

After winning both the Australian and French Opens this year, Nadal, who turned 36 earlier this month, told a news conference that the pain in his injured foot has eased and he will travel to London on Monday to start his preparation for the tournament.

"I'm happy, I haven't been limping for a week," Nadal, who won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, told a news conference in Mallorca.

"I have noticed changes with the treatment, still have strange sensations, sometimes I can’t feel my foot, but the pain that did not allow me to support my weight on my foot has subsided."

Nadal explained that he intends to travel to London on Monday and he will assess how he is feeling after a week of training and exhibition matches.

"My intention is to play Wimbledon, but it will all depend on what happens with my body this next week,” Nadal said.

"I’m without pain for a week and have been practising, so it tells me there may be a chance to play in the tournament."

Nadal said last month in Paris that he had played Roland Garros with pain-killing injections prior to each match, but does not want to repeat that at other tournaments.

The issue, which forced him to take five months off in 2021, returned in Rome prior to the French Open, after he came back in May from a six-week injury break.

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his semi final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/Pool

Nadal has not played Wimbledon since 2019 when he reached the semi-finals. The tournament was not held the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he missed the 2021 edition due to injury.

He last reached the Wimbledon final 11 years ago, when he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic.

"I haven't played on grass for three years and I have to adapt, every day I have been recovering sensations and feeling better. I have a week left before playing and I have to test myself little by little," Nadal said.

"Advancing in the first rounds is crucial. If you advance, you pick up the pace to reach the end. You have to survive no matter what."

Nadal also confirmed that his wife Mery Perello is pregnant with their first child.

"If everything goes well, I'm going to be a father. I'm not used to talking about my private life. We live more peacefully with a lower profile. I don't expect that my life will change much with it," he said.

"At the moment all has worked well for me and I am not a friend of changing what works well. My intention is to play Wimbledon, rest, then Canada and then be ready for the US Open."

(Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Toby Davis)

[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.