"Today was a little bit worse than other days" - Rafael Nadal reveals foot issues have resurfaced after clinching 18th win in a row

Rafael Nadal continued his fantastic run of form in 2022, notching up his 18th consecutive win on Wednesday. The Spaniard beat Reilly Opelka 7-6(3), 7-6(5) in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters.

Nadal is now 18-0 this year and the second player since 1990 to achieve such a start to a season. Novak Djokovic pulled off the feat twice, going 41-0 in 2011 and then 26-0 in 2020.

Nadal's achievement was made all the more special by the fact that he was almost driven into retirement by a chronic foot injury in 2021. The Spaniard was forced to sit out most of the season after Roland Garros.

He underwent extensive treatment for his condition and returned this year, making history by winning the Australian Open. Rafael Nadal also won the Melbourne Summer Set and the Mexican Open.

But the Spaniard's foot seemed to bother him during the second set against Opelka.

"So-so. For a moment, good. Then on the second set, a little bit worst, being honest. I felt my foot a little bit on the second set," Rafael Nadal said in his post-match press conference. "I was able to keep going, keep running till the end, no? That's the same thing. Yes, being honest, I am not in the moment to lie or to hide things."

The three-time Indian Wells champion revealed that his foot bothered him more against Opelka than in his previous matches in the California desert. However, he allayed fears by insisting that the problem was not out of the ordinary.

"I am just very happy to be playing tennis. Today was a little bit worse than other days. It's true that the last couple of days the foot have been bothering me a little bit more. Something that can happen. We know that," Nadal said. "Just try to be ready and stay positive because going to be my last tournament on hard. After we going to go back to clay. That probably helps a little bit more."

"Nick Kyrgios is one of the toughest opponents without a doubt" - Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal will take on familiar foe Nick Kyrgios in the last eight on Friday. Nadal leads Kyrgios 5-3 in the head-to-head.

The 35-year-old pointed out that he does not expect easy fixtures at this stage of the tournament and admitted Kyrgios could pose some problems for him.

"Well, Nick is difficult in any conditions, no? When he's playing well and when he's excited and motivated, he's one of the toughest opponents without a doubt, no?" Tomorrow going to be a tough match, but we are in quarterfinals of Indian Wells, Masters 1000," the Spaniard said. "We can't expect another thing, no? I have to expect a very tough opponent in front. Tomorrow going to be."

"I hope to be ready for it, I need to play well and let's see if I'm able to make that happen hopefully."

Also Check Out: Indian Wells Masters 2022 Schedule