16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni has made a shocking admission about his nephew’s career.
Toni, who mentored Rafa until 2016 revealed that the current World No. 2’s battle with injuries started way back in 2005 when he experienced pain in his foot for the first time. In a shocking revelation, Toni disclosed that an expert declared that the Majorcan’s career was all but over.
However, with sheer determination and hard work, Rafa proved that specialist absolutely wrong. After his rehabilitation, Rafa was back on court and went on to win his maiden Roland Garros crown.
“Since 2005 my nephew is living with pain and painkillers since 2005,” Toni said.
“For this reason he’s considered his well-being above wins and many times he’s told me that he would have liked to win less in exchange for having less pain.”
“It has got to the point where we are looking at his health ahead of matches.
“The specialist we went to told us that Rafael’s career was pretty much finished,” said Toni.
“Well, in 2005 Rafael had to constantly live in pain. From that time on, we couldn’t finish training sessions a lot of times.
“A lot of times — almost always — he would have to take a painkiller because the pain would get worse and worse as the games went on.
“Because of some insoles that he started using, which solved his foot problem, he started having problems in his knee, back and other parts of his body.”
Rafa is recuperating from a hip injury, which he sustained during the Australian Open in January. The 31-year-old southpaw is expected to make his much anticipated comeback next month at the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco.
