Nadal returns to practice after four weeks off the courts

The 21-time Grand Slam champion has not played since losing to Taylor Fritz in the final of Indian Wells

Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

April 18, 2022

Rafael Nadal, the player with the most Grand Slam singles titles in men’s tennis history, resumed light training on Monday after being off the courts for four weeks.

The 35-year-old Spaniard had injured his rib during the Indian Wells Masters Series event in March, which forced him to pull out of the subsequent Miami Open and also delayed the start of his preparations for the clay court season.

Nadal posted an update on his social media handles today in which he said, “Today after 4 weeks without stepping on a tennis court, first light training. What an illusion to step on the earth again! “

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Nadal expected to return for the Madrid Masters in May

The injury was expected to sideline Nadal for four to six weeks and forced him to pull out of this week’s Barcelona Open. The Spaniard is now expected to return in time for the Madrid Masters, which begins on May 1and then participate in the Italian Open in Rome, which begins on May 8 before heading to Paris for the French Open.

Nadal is the 13-time champion at Roland-Garros, the most times any player, male or female, has won one of the four Grand Slam singles title

The Spaniard had his best-ever start to a season in 2022, winning his first 20 matches of the year, including titles in Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco, and reaching the final at Indian Wells, where he went down to American Taylor Fritz in the championship match.

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