This is the absence at Roland Garros in 2023, a long catalog of misfortunes tied to Rafael Nadal’s storied career. The Balearic star has carried a lengthy list of injuries that have interrupted his path since he first picked up a racket. At almost 37—on June 3—the ledger grows with notable setbacks that have shaped his journey:
Direct | Nadal Nadal announces that he will not play for Roland Garros and will not play indefinitely: “I’m taking a break to prepare for the last year of my career”
Historical timeline and context
May 2003: right elbow
Nadal faced a cleft in his right elbow caused by a training misstep shortly after his Roland Garros debut, marking the first of many early challenges in his ascent to prominence. [Source attribution: early development timeline]
April 2004: left foot
A fracture in the left foot’s scaphoid created trouble at the Estoril event and kept him from competing again at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. [Source attribution: early injury record]
November 2005: Muller-Weiss syndrome
After claiming 11 titles and fighting tendon issues, Nadal paused the season and missed the 2006 Australian Open. Doctors diagnosed Müller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative condition affecting the scaphoid. The diagnosis signaled ongoing medical battles that would accompany him through much of his career. This period would later be described by his uncle and coach as a pivotal moment. [Source attribution: medical history]
August 2009: knees
Following Wimbledon glory in 2008, Nadal could not defend his title the next year due to persistent knee tendinitis. His run ended in the last 16 at Roland Garros, as Robin Soderling advanced. [Source attribution: knee issues]
September 2009: abdomen
An abdominal tear contributed to Nadal’s exit in the US Open semi-finals, where Juan Martin Del Potro claimed victory. [Source attribution: 2009 season]
July 2012: left knee
A left knee tendinitis forced him to skip the London Olympics and later the US Open, disrupting a peak period. [Source attribution: Olympic interruption]
January 2014: back
A back injury kept Nadal from his best form, though he reached the Australian Open final, losing to Stan Wawrinka. [Source attribution: 2014 season]
July 2014: right wrist
A crack in the right wrist during the summer sidelined him from the Masters in Toronto, Cincinnati, and the US Open. [Source attribution: wrist injury]
May 2016: left wrist
A tendon issue in the left wrist forced Nadal to withdraw from Roland Garros in the third round against Marcel Granollers. [Source attribution: wrist trouble]
February 2021: back
Back problems hindered qualification for the ATP Cup and left Nadal with a tough Australian Open quarter-final exit. [Source attribution: 2021 season]
August 2021: left foot
A chronic issue tied to Müller-Weiss syndrome kept Nadal sidelined, ending the season early and leading to surgery in September. [Source attribution: surgery]
March 2022: ribs
A broken rib suffered in a semifinal at Indian Wells and later performances impacted his schedule as he paused in Barcelona and Monte Carlo. [Source attribution: 2022 season]
May 2022: left foot
A lingering left-foot problem caused early exits at Rome, shadowing his Roland Garros campaign, which he navigated with persistence and later benefited from targeted therapies. [Source attribution: 2022 season]
July 2022: abdomen
An abdominal tear in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon forced him to withdraw from the semis against Nick Kyrgios, signaling a careful approach to preserve his longevity. [Source attribution: 2022 Wimbledon]
January 2023: hip
A diagnosis revealed an injury to the left iliopsoas muscle during an Australian Open second-round match, with Nadal admitting mental fatigue and frustration from ongoing recoveries. Since then, he has remained away from competition. [Source attribution: 2023 setback]