Rafael Nadal may not feature again until 2024 with recovery to take five months (Picture: Twitter)
Rafael Nadal has revealed that his keyhole surgery was successful and that the recovery process will take five months – if there are no setbacks.
The Spanish tennis legend, who recently confirmed that 2024 is likely to be his final year before retirement, has not played since January amid a hip flexor injury.
It was revealed on Friday that the 22-time Grand Slam winner was set for a arthroscopy on the iliopsoas of his left leg.
Nadal, 36, has now posted an update as he wrote on Twitter: ‘Everything went well and the arthroscopy was on the left psoas tendon that has kept me out of competition since January.
‘An old injury to the labrum of my left hip was also regularised, which will surely help the better evolution of the tendon.
‘I will start progressive functional rehabilitation immediately and the normal recovery process they tell me is five months, if all goes well.’
Nadal confirmed last month that he was set to be absent for ‘the next few months’ – missing the ongoing French Open and Wimbledon – and will now definitely miss the US Open and may not return for the remainder of 2023.
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Speaking on May 18, Nadal was hopeful to return for the Davis Cup but that is now unlikely.
‘It might be a goal to try and play in the Davis Cup at the end of the year if I’m feeling good and also the captain considers me good enough,’ he said. ‘My hope is that I’ll return when I feel ready physically and I suppose, mentally.’
Nadal admitted he was ‘destroyed mentally’ after his last professional match, losing in the second round of the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald.
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‘Everything went well…’