Nadal’s Knee Surgeon Says Trouble Could Return at any Time

Written by: Staff on 28th September 2010

Nadal’s Knee Surgeon Says Trouble Could Return at any Time

Rafael Nadal (ESP) |

With the last three major titles of 2010 to his name, Rafael Nadal would appear to be on a surge of form and the knee problems, which seemed so grave after he limped away from January’s Australian Open, consigned to the past. However the surgeon who has been treating the world no.1 maintains the tendonitis could return at any time.

Twice this year Barcelona-based Mikel Sanchez has injected enriched blood plasma into both knees of the world no.1; the first in May during the week of the Barcelona tournament when Nadal regrettably withdrew after winning in Monte Carlo, the second in July immediately after Wimbledon.

The evidence of Nadal’s magnificent march to the title at this month’s US Open would seem to suggest the debilitating condition, that has been a constant burden to Nadal for much of the last three years, is now in check.

However there is no long term guarantee. The tendon is cured — wider, with a different physical appearance, but cured,” said Sanchez in an interview with the Spanish sports newspaper Marca. “At the moment I’m not doing anything, but will probably have to return.

“If Rafa is going to continue at the same rhythm, then there is a risk that his tendons will degenerate again. That is why you cannot say this is a permanent treatment. Plus, it could occur in other tendons such as the Achilles.”

Since being administered with the first injections five months ago, Nadal has only been beaten three times and won five tournaments, including of course the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open

“It was incredible that he could keep playing with his knees like they were,” concluded Sanchez. “He has to understand that as he gets older he has to have a balance.”

Topics: Achilles, Australian Open, Blood Plasma, Both Knees, Five Months, French Open, Knee Problems, Knee Surgeon, Marca, Mikel Sanchez, Monte Carlo, Physical Appearance, Rafael Nadal, Rhythm, Spanish Sports, Tendon, Tendonitis, Tendons, Three Times, Wimbledon