After much speculation, fueled by his withdrawal from the Queen’s Club tournament this week and Uncle Toni’s own dire prognosis, Rafael Nadal has announced that his knees should (hopefully!) be healthy enough to allow him to defend his Wimbledon title. Here is the statement via his website:
“I have been playing with pain on my knees for some months now and I simply can’t go on like this. The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well. After the tests and with the appropriate treatment, we have decided to travel to London next Tuesday, June 16th.”
“I am going to give my 200% to be ready for the most important tournament in the world. The tournament that I always dream about. I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100% ready to play.”
“I have 2 difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won’t be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area.”
Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, the Spanish Federation doctor and Managing Director of the Mapfre Medical Tennis Center is in charge of Nadal’s rehab and made this statement:
“After the appropriate tests (MRI, Ultrasound scans and gammagraphy) Mr. Rafael Nadal suffers from insertion tendonitis in the superior end of both kneecaps with a light osseous edema. His treatment will involve oral anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy as well as progressive muscular exercises for both quadriceps’s. Following the 48-hour treatment, Mr. Nadal will gradually get back into training.”
This is hopeful news for tennis fans, who can’t imagine this year’s Wimbledon without anticipating a Federer vs. Nadal rematch in the final. Wimbledon starts on June 22, with the men’s defending champion first up on Centre Court.
*UPDATE – I realize that this post is taking a positive spin on the news Rafael Nadal announced today.While Rafa is obviously hoping and planning to play Wimbledon, he’s not saying yet if he definitely WILL. Fingers crossed.
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