Nadal in 2021: The Year His Career Nearly Ended Due to a Chronic Foot Injury
In the fall of 2021, Rafael Nadal no longer knew if he was still a professional tennis player or a body on borrowed time.
The diagnosis was old, but its consequences had become brutal.
Müller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative condition in his left foot that he had been dealing with since the mid-2000s, directly affected his ability to train, run, and play consecutive matches.
Despite the pessimism of doctors, the Spaniard fought to find solutions (including custom-made insoles specifically designed to alleviate the pressure and weight on his foot).
However, these adjustments would not come without consequences, as they would lead to compensations and numerous subsequent injuries.
And this pain, even with personalized support, could not always be managed, as in 2021.
In 2021, Nadal Says Stop
Indeed, that year, Nadal had to end his season, despite a modified schedule (playing only seven tournaments, with just two on hard courts).
Thus, he would not compete in an official match again after his third-round loss in Washington to Lloyd Harris on August 6, 2021 (defeat 6-4, 1-6, 6-4).
A significant decision that would cause him to miss the US Open, a tournament he had won four times (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019).
A few weeks earlier, he had already felt alarming signs of pain during his legendary semifinal at Roland-Garros against Novak Djokovic (defeat 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2).
An Emotional Message
This forced but very difficult choice, Nadal decided to announce in an emotional message shared on his social media.
"Honestly, I am going through a year where I am suffering much more from my foot than I should.
I will do everything to get back to the best possible shape, to continue competing with the goals that matter most to me.
I am convinced that I can achieve this if my foot heals and, of course, with significant daily effort.
I want to understand the evolution of this injury, because it is not new. It has been there since 2005 and it has held me back in my career all these years.
I am ready to do whatever it takes to continue being competitive. I promise you that I will work hard to try to keep enjoying this sport for a while longer," he explained.
Strong words, which testify to the level of suffering the king of clay had reached.
Because while Nadal has always dealt with pain, the prospect of the end of his career had never been so close.
And the medical procedure he underwent in the fall was not a miracle solution, only an attempt at respite.
For weeks, his training was fragmented, irregular, subject to the reactions of his foot.
Some days, he could hit the ball for an hour. Others, he had to stop abruptly.
Nadal would later say: "There were moments when I didn't know if I would be able to play tennis again."
Under these conditions, Melbourne appeared less as a goal and more as a test.
A First Test Before the Australian Open
Nadal initially entered the ATP 250 in Melbourne in early January, without knowing what his body would allow.
He won matches, regained some rhythm, and even won the tournament (against Cressy in the final: 7-6, 6-3).
Nevertheless, he remained cautious. "Every day is a victory," he would later confide.
At 35, one of the greatest competitors in history was no longer projecting forward, but managing the moment.
Find the Full Investigation on Tennis Temple This Weekend
"Rafael Nadal, Melbourne 2022 or the Most Unexpected Victory of His Career," available starting January 24, 2026.
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