After overcoming fears for his future in the sport because of a persistent foot injury, it was a cruel blow when Rafael Nadal was forced to withdraw from his Wimbledon 2022 semifinal against Nick Kyrgios with an abdominal injury that prevented the 36-year-old from moving freely.
Nadal had looked on course to continue his charge towards the Grand Slam at SW19, extending the scintillating form with which he won the Australian and French titles.
In the absence of his two rival dominating forces of the modern men’s game, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Nadal can also extend his singles title record at Flushing Meadows.
Is Rafael Nadal playing at the US Open?
Nadal is playing in the US Open as the second seed behind reigning champion Daniil Medvedev, who returns to Grand Slam action after missing Wimbledon because the tournament imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian players as a result of the war in Ukraine.
Rafael Nadal’s next match
Next up for Nadal is a fourth-round match against home hope Frances Tiafoe, the 22nd seed, on September 5. Nadal won their previous two meetings, at the Australian Open and Madrid Masters, but they were both back in 2019.
Nadal surprisingly lost the first set to the unheralded Rinky Hijikata before coming through 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-3. He also dropped the opener against Fabio Fognini in round two but won 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1.
In round three, Nadal extending his career record against Richard Gasquet to 18-0, winning 6-0 6-1 7-5.
Rafael Nadal’s US Open record
Away from the clay of the French Open on which he almost invariably excels, New York is Nadal’s most successful Grand Slam.
Four-set victories over Djokovic in the 2010 and 2013 finals preceded a straight-sets win over Kevin Anderson in 2017 that ended Nadal’s wait of almost four years for a hard court title.
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Medvedev gave Nadal arguably his toughest test on his way to eventual glory at the tournament, reacting to losing the first two sets of the final in 2019 by taking the subsequent two. Nadal won the final set 6-4.
Nadal first appeared at the US Open in 2003, reached the quarterfinal for the first time in 2006 – the only time he has lost at that stage – and has made the final four on three occasions.
His only defeat in five finals was in 2011, when Nadal was swept aside by Djokovic in four sets.
Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam titles put him one ahead of Djokovic and two ahead of Federer, whose injury issues make the Swiss all-but retired.
Even if it is not a priority, Nadal will doubtless be aware that he can move further ahead of Djokovic now that his nearest rival has been denied permission to play at the US Open because he has not received a Covid vaccination, as was the high-profile case at the Australian Open.
Nadal capitalised by winning that tournament, then beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals on his way to triumphing at Roland-Garros.
What injuries has Rafael Nadal had?
The sight of Nadal looking glum or grimacing as he contemplates trying to complete another match through injury is almost as familiar as the tennis icon celebrating victories.
The list of Grand Slams in which Nadal has not been injured is far shorter than the ones he has played in at full fitness, and it is testament to his courage and conditioning that he has often played on anyway.
Knee, wrist and foot injuries have been his most common issues at the US Open, with a knee issue forcing him to pull out of the semifinals of the 2018 tournament.
Juan Martin del Potro beat Nadal in the 2009 US Open semifinals while his victim was suffering from a torn abdominal muscle, and he sustained a hamstring injury at Melbourne in 2011, followed by a back problem at the tournament three years later.
Nadal’s most worrying affliction has been Mueller-Weiss Syndrome, a pain in the arch of the foot through which he missed the end of the 2021 season.
It was unclear whether Nadal’s talk of retirement in October 2021 was a sign of frustration or a genuine threat from a player who was thought to have many more titles ahead of him.
That made it even more of a thrill for fans when Nadal returned in such style in 2022. Finishing the Grand Slam calendar with a long run at the US Open would be another sure sign of Nadal’s determination to continue gracing the game in spite of regular hindrances.