Rafael Nadal came to the French Open this year unsure of his future. He is going back unsure. At 36, the Spaniard became the oldest winner at Roland Garros after he beat a budding Norwegian star, half his age, in straight sets. Sheer dominance. 

Also read: Rafael Nadal celebrated as ‘Hercules’ and ‘King’ after French Open 2022 win

He dropped, placed and ran all through the Philippe-Chatrier court. Nadal was chasing records. The GOAT beat Casper Rudd 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 and now has 22 Grand Slam titles against his name, two more than his closest rivals – Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. 

But a final and a victory in it was a distant dream for Nadal a month ago when he withdrew from the Barcelona and Italian Open tournaments citing a rib injury. The chronic pain in his left foot was a problem too. Then came May 6, Rafa lost at home. On his derby, a red clay Madrid court, a 19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz crushed the 22-time Grand Slam winner. 

Also read: Rafael Nadal shatters multiple records at French Open 2022. Here’s a list

However, Nadal played down his foot injury ahead of the French Open. He came out, practiced in front of thousands and stressed that ‘there is nothing to recover’. Seeded fifth, he went past the likes of four top 10 players -Felix Auger-Alissiame, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud – en route to victory. 

What helped him? Nadal says belief. 

Talking about the problems with his left foot and injuries ahead of French Open, Nadal, after winning the tournament, said, “If I didn’t believe, I probably wouldn’t be here. It was a big surprise [to be here], unexpected and as everyone knows in the world of tennis, the preparation was not ideal.”

Also read: Rafael Nadal to Ken Rosewall: Oldest Grand Slam winners

The 2022 French Open champion has been diagnosed with Mueller-Weiss Syndrome in his left foot. It is a rare congenital condition affecting the bones in one’s feet and is marked by the degeneration of the adult tarsal navicular, a crucial bone in the midfoot. It results in extreme pain and even deformity of the foot. 

Nadal was taking injections. When asked how many, “It’s better you don’t know”, he said. He admitted that play was possible only because the left foot was asleep. 

Also Read: Nadal, unsure of future, ‘will fight to keep going’ after French Open win

“I had been off the practice courts for a month and a half with a stress fracture on my rib, and then I had [a problem with my] foot. It stayed there all the time. In Rome it was difficult, but it’s been amazing… I’ve had my doctor here with me. We played with no feeling in the foot, with a [pain-killing] injection on the nerve. The foot was asleep, and that’s why I was able to play.”

The syndrome had led to chatter that Nadal would retire soon. However, the 36-year-old rubbished all speclation. After the game, he thanked his family, team and the organisers before saying that he is unsure about the future but wants to keep figthing.

What’s next?

Nadal understands that he ‘can’t keep going like this’. “I am working to find a solution,” he said.

He wants to participate in the Wimbledon that starts on June 27. 

“I’m going to be in Wimbledon if my body is ready to be in Wimbledon. That’s it. Wimbledon is not a tournament that I want to miss.”