Rafael Nadal is opposed to Alexander Zverev this Friday in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros.
The Spaniard, a true living legend in Paris from the top of his 13 titles, spoke several times this week about the evil that has been eating away at his foot for years, leaving the idea that it may be his last appearance Porte d'Auteuil.
A scenario in which his uncle Toni and his fans do not want to believe.
At Roland Garros,
For the past few days, something has been floating in the air at Roland-Garros.
We didn't realize it right away, accustomed as we are to hearing Rafael Nadal talk about his physical suffering, about this foot that has been bothering him for so many years, about this body that he constantly pushes beyond its limits to continue to offer masterpieces like Tuesday against Novak Djokovic.
But this time, it's as if there was something else.
As if the Spaniard was preparing his farewell to the tournament that made him king.
Or even just tennis?
Weariness is gaining ground
It started at the end of last week, after his stifling victory in five sets against Auger-Aliassime in the round of 16.
Without anyone really throwing him on the subject, Nadal wondered aloud.
“To be frank, every game I play here is maybe my last at Roland-Garros, or even in my career.
Who knows ?
“In full negotiation – already – not to have to play in the evening against Djokovic in the shock that awaits him, the thesis of the bluff is possible.
But after having defeated the world number 1 by reaching for more than four hours a level that he no longer hoped for, the man with 13 titles at Roland did it again:
“I have what I have at my feet.
If we can't find an improvement, it will become very difficult for me.
I will continue to fight to find solutions.
At the moment, we don't have any.
»
This famous left foot, affected by the Müller-Weiss syndrome (a necrosis of the navicular bone, located on the kick, which is not vascularized properly) and which has been rotting his life since he was 19 years old .
Because evil has irrigated.
To be able to continue playing, Nadal had to have special insoles made, which roughed up his knees and led to tendonitis.
Inevitably, weariness is gaining ground.
"I play to be happy, but the pain takes away your happiness," he said three weeks ago in Rome, after finishing his match against Shapovalov on a walker.
There are many days when I am unhappy.
»
Toni wants to believe not
It looks like the Majorcan, who turns 36 this Friday, is indulging in a certain melancholy.
Our Spanish colleagues fear the worst, and urgently called Uncle Toni.
“Rafa’s last Roland-Garros?
I want to believe not, replied the lifelong mentor to Cadena Ser on Thursday.
I don't like goodbyes, I can't imagine my nephew saying goodbye to tennis.
Like everyone else, in fact.
Ulysse and Yannick, two friends aged 21 and 23 ranked 15/2, grew up with him.
Crossed in the alleys which adjoin the Chatrier, they do not want to believe in the end of their idol.
"He's been saying for a while that he doesn't know what his future will be like, that he always talks about the present moment, for me it's the same thing this year, says the first.
I don't see it stopping now.
He says it's getting harder and harder, but when you see the game he's still capable of against Djokovic… The guy is phenomenal.
»
Central Rafael Nadal?
“I can't see him leaving like that and saying “well, it was my last Roland”, engages his friend.
At worst, he will return next year to say goodbye.
“And what would it be, then, a ceremony worthy of the greatest player that the Parisian Grand Slam has known?
“It was beautiful what they had done for his 10th victory, with the personalized podium.
You need something that stays, says Ulysses.
They have already put a statue.
Why not a short in his name!
Renaming the Chatrier in court Rafael Nadal, it would not seem crazy to me.
»
We are not there yet.
Already, we have to see how Nadal will adapt to the fight to come in the semi-final against Alexandre Zverev, ultra-solid to take out Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round.
Is he able to leave for four hours or more?
Thanks to the presence of his personal doctor, a priori yes.
The so-called Angel Ruiz Cotorro, medical director of the Spanish Federation and guardian angel of the world number 5, assured him that the treatment administered during the fortnight will allow him to hold out until the end, reports the daily
Marca
.
Questions for the future
Which, exactly?
“I will explain to you when the tournament is over,” eluded the player at the very end of his press conference on Tuesday.
There aren't 40 options anyway.
“He must necessarily do infiltrations”, asks Doctor Elkaim, orthopedic surgeon.
No corticosteroids, because it is forbidden during competition, but anesthetics.
We suspect that Rafael Nadal has been juggling these treatments for ages.
With obvious consequences in the future.
"Infiltrations weaken the bone, it's never good to do too much," continues the specialist.
The bone is in danger of fragmenting or even coming out of the foot.
»
The solution for the Spaniard may be to practice in a few years an arthrodesis, a surgical intervention aimed at stopping the degeneration of the bone thanks to a graft.
An act that seems impressive said like that, but which allows you to return to normal life afterwards, even if the mobility of the foot takes a hit.
In any case, “this problem does not endanger his health for the future”, assures Dr. Elkaim.
Our Roland-Garros file
Does Rafael Nadal think about all this when he pours out his doubts?
Thursday, he clarified his thoughts on Spanish public television.
“At no time did I intend to prepare for farewells, he told TVE.
I just describe things as they are.
“Painful.
Insurmountable, even, for ordinary mortals.
But with him, you must not swear to anything.
For now, he plans to play until Sunday.
His season will perhaps (surely) end there.
But, he "hopes", not his career.
Sport
Roland-Garros 2022: A great atmosphere but full of logistical problems… The night sessions are not yet ready
Sport
Roland-Garros 2022: Just qualified for the final, the American Coco Gauff takes a stand against firearms
Sport
Tennis
Roland Garros 2022
Rafael Nadal
Retirement