Rafael Nadal lost a tough match against Denis Shapovalov on Thursday. The King of Clay was clearly struggling with his chronic foot injury. After the match, he commented:

“I’m not injured, I am a player living with an injury. That’s it. It’s something that is there unfortunately and my day by day is difficult. I am trying hard but of course, it is difficult for me. A lot of days I can’t practice.

I don’t want to take anything away from Denis… today is for him so well done to him.”

Rafael Nadal in 2022

Ranked world no.4, the Spaniard played his last match on the 12^th of May when he lost to world no.16 Denis Shapovalov 1-6 7-5 6-2

in the 3^rd round in Rome (draw).

Currently, during this season the Spaniard has achieved a 23-3 match record. Nadal has won 3 titles in 2022 in Melbourne, at the Australian Open and in Acapulco. Rafael reached the final in Indian Wells.