Rafa Nadal has been in the news again, this time away from the courts: the tennis player shared on social networks an image with his right hand in a cast and supported by a sling, and the Mallorcan himself explained that he has had to undergo surgery due to advanced osteoarthritis in the trapezium-metacarpal joint, a problem that had been dragging for years and finally required surgery.
Nadal communicated the situation with naturalness and a touch of humor, ironizing with his new stage as retired: “It seems to me that I will not be able to play the Australian Open in January,” he joked, before reassuring his followers that the operation was necessary and that he hopes to recover soon.
The operation in Barcelona and the diagnosis
The intervention was performed this Thursday at the Teknon Clinic in Barcelona, one of the medical centers of reference in sports medicine. The procedure was supervised by Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro, Nadal’s trusted doctor throughout his career, and was carried out by doctors Vilaro and Álex Lluch.
Looks like I won’t be able to play the @australianopen in January 😂
I’ve had to have surgery on my hand for a long-standing problem, but hopefully I’ll be fine soon! 🤗
Looks like I won’t be able to play the @AustralianOpen 2026 😂
– Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) December 12, 2025
The surgery consisted of an arthroplasty, a technique aimed at relieving chronic pain and improving the mobility of the affected joint. The main objective was to put an end to the persistent discomfort that Nadal had been suffering for some time, even during his last years as a professional.
A recent farewell to professional tennis
The operation comes some time after his official retirement from tennis: Nadal closed his career on November 19, 2024, during the Davis Cup played in Malaga. And, although he lost to the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, the sporting result was overshadowed by the emotional tribute he received from the public in the Martin Carpena pavilion.
At the age of 38, Nadal put an end to a historic career, marked by 22 Grand Slam titles and a total of 92 professional trophies. An exceptional career, sustained for two decades despite a body punished by constant injuries.
A history of injuries that marked his career
From a very young age, Nadal lived with serious physical problems. In 2005 he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome in his left foot, a degenerative disease that forced him to modify his stride and compete in pain for years; that adaptation eventually led to new ailments in other parts of his body.
His knees began to give him problems from 2008, with recurrent tendinitis, and in 2012 Hoffa’s syndrome appeared. The left wrist, back, abdominals and iliac psoas were also part of a long list of physical setbacks.
In 2016 he had to abandon Roland Garros, although he managed to return to win the Olympic gold in doubles in Rio. In 2021 and 2023 he underwent surgery again, and an injury in Australia ended up precipitating the decision to retire.
A new stage away from competition
The recent hand operation is not linked to a sporting comeback, but to improve his quality of life after years of overexertion. Nadal now begins a different stage, away from the demands of the circuit, but still marked by the physical after-effects of a career as important as demanding.
