Rafael Nadal Undergoes Right-Hand Surgery, Jokes About 2026 Australian Open.
Even in retirement, Rafael Nadal is making headlines with injury updates. On Friday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed he underwent right-hand surgery, humorously announcing his “withdrawal” from the **2026 Australian Open” — a tournament he wasn’t planning to play.
Nadal explained, “I had to undergo hand surgery because of an issue I’d been dealing with for a long time, but I hope to be fine soon!”
According to his publicist, the procedure, an arthroplasty, was performed at Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona to address severe osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint. The surgery was overseen by Nadal’s longtime doctor, Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro, and is intended to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Life After Retirement
Nadal retired following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, concluding a career marked by battles with foot and hip injuries. Earlier this year, he was celebrated at Roland Garros in a star-studded ceremony with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
While Nadal had considered playing exhibitions, he emphasized the need for recovery: “Playing exhibitions isn’t just showing up — you want to give the fans a good level of tennis.”
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