5 times Rafael Nadal struggled with injury and rose back

In the world of sports, few athletes have faced as many career-threatening injuries and come back stronger as Rafael Nadal. In an interview with AS in 2017, the Spaniard said, "When I was 26, I never imagined playing at 31." But spoiler alert: not only did he play well past 30, he won an astonishing eight Grand Slams and reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking multiple times in his 30s.

Why was Nadal so uncertain about his future back then? It wasn't just his intense playing style but a series of relentless injuries that started affecting him from the very start.

Back in 2005, Nadal was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss Syndrome, a chronic foot condition that caused him significant pain throughout his career. Despite these challenges, his fighting spirit helped him clinch 92 tour-level singles titles and stay in the top 10 for over 900 consecutive weeks—a record that speaks volumes about his resilience.

Here’s a look back at five remarkable comebacks from the Spaniard, who was seemingly down and out, yet rose to the top each time.

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#5 Left foot injury in 2021

After an up-and-down start to the 2021 season, Rafael Nadal had to withdraw from Wimbledon, the US Open, the Olympics, and other major tournaments due to injury setbacks.

Despite these challenges, the Spaniard finished his season with two titles—one in Barcelona and another in Rome—achieving a solid 24-5 win-loss record. Following surgery on his left foot, Nadal didn’t return to the tour until January 2022 in Australia.

The Comeback

With no match practice for nearly six months—and having spent much of that time being unable to walk—Nadal was widely underestimated. To regain his rhythm, he entered a warm-up 250 event in Melbourne, which he won without dropping a set.

Then came one of the most thrilling comeback victories in Grand Slam history. Down two sets in the Australian Open final, Nadal rallied to defeat Daniil Medvedev, securing one of the finest wins of his career. This marked the beginning of his best-ever season start, with 20 consecutive match wins. His title in Melbourne earned him a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam, surpassing Roger Federer.

Although an abdominal injury post-Indian Wells impacted his form, the King of Clay still powered through to claim his 14th French Open title, finishing the year ranked No. 2 in the world—a remarkable feat for a season marked by both triumph and struggle.

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#4 2016 left wrist injury

The 2015-16 stretch was one of the most challenging periods in Rafael Nadal’s career. During these two years, the Spaniard failed to win a single Grand Slam title and dropped out of the top 5 for the first time since 2005. After a tough season, he withdrew from Wimbledon. To address his persistent wrist injury, he ended his season early for surgery. By then, many experts had written off the 14-time major champion, assuming the best days of his career were behind him.

The Comeback

When Nadal returned to the tour at the 2017 Australian Open, he entered as the 9th seed with little expectation. But what followed was nothing short of a fairy tale. In one of the most memorable Grand Slam finals, long-time rivals Nadal and Roger Federer turned back the clock, facing off in a thrilling five-set showdown.

Although Federer ultimately triumphed, the comeback marked a fresh start for both legends. Nadal then went on to claim his historic 10th French Open title without dropping a set and secured his third US Open title. He capped off the year as World No. 1 with an impressive 68-12 win-loss record, proving that he was far from finished.

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#3 Nadal suffered from a knee injury in 2012

The 2012 season was a tough one for Rafa, as his knee issues flared up once again, worsening in the second half of the year. The injury forced the Spaniard to withdraw from the Olympics, the US Open, and other major tournaments. Despite winning the French Open and reaching the Australian Open final, he ended the season ranked World No. 4—a surprising dip for the Spanish icon, given his usual dominance.

The Comeback

Nadal made a powerful return to the tour in February 2013, reaching the finals at nine consecutive tournaments and winning seven of them. These titles included triumphs at the French Open, Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome. Although his run was briefly interrupted by a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon against Steve Darcis, Nadal bounced back with a vengeance, sweeping the North American hard-court swing with victories in Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open.

The 2013 season remains one of the most remarkable in tennis history, with Nadal posting an astounding 75-7 win-loss record and capturing 10 titles. He closed the year as World No. 1 for the third time in his career, a fitting capstone to one of his greatest comeback seasons.

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#2 2009 knee injury

By early 2009, Rafael Nadal was on top of the tennis world. He held three of the four Grand Slam titles and was the reigning Olympic champion. Then came the French Open—his favorite tournament, where he had never lost a match. But no one could have predicted the historic upset that was about to unfold. In the fourth round at Roland Garros, the four-time champion was defeated by Sweden’s Robin Soderling, marking one of the biggest shocks in tennis history. This match also brought Nadal’s knee issues to light, issues that had been worsening.

Unable to defend his Wimbledon title, he withdrew from the grass-court season and finished the year without adding another title. During this challenging stretch, he also lost his World No. 1 ranking to Roger Federer. He returned at the start of the 2010 season but was forced to retire in the Australian Open quarterfinal against Andy Murray due to injury.

The Comeback

However, after a two-month break, Nadal made a powerful comeback, sweeping the clay-court season and capturing every remaining Grand Slam title that year. His victories included his first US Open title, completing his career Grand Slam and reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking.

Nadal finished 2010 with a stunning 71-10 win-loss record, seven titles—including three Slams and three Masters 1000s titles—in what became one of the most remarkable seasons in tennis history which started with a injury retirement at Melbourne.

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#1 1999 broken finger

In 1999, a young Rafael Nadal entered Spain’s U-14 National Championship alongside other promising players. In his very first round, Nadal tripped and fell, breaking the pinky finger on his left hand. But even at 13, Nadal’s spirit was unbreakable. Rather than withdrawing, he gritted his way through the pain, gripping his racquet with only four fingers, and went on to win the entire tournament. That victory gave everyone there an early glimpse of the resilience that would one day captivate the world.

Fast forward to the 2022 French Open, where Nadal—now a legend of the sport—won his 14th Roland Garros title under excruciating conditions. For two weeks, he played with an anesthetized foot, receiving pain-killing injections every day just to make it through the tournament. Even his opponent, Casper Ruud, later revealed that he saw Nadal on crutches the day after their final match.

It was another display of Nadal’s relentless drive, the “I will die for it” mentality that has defined his career. That unyielding mindset took a determined kid from Mallorca to an astonishing 22 Grand Slam titles and the pinnacle of tennis. He has shown the world that greatness isn’t simply about winning; it’s about enduring, pushing limits, and rising again, no matter the obstacles. His legacy will inspire generations, reminding them that true champions are forged in moments of unthinkable resolve.