Rafael Nadal’s fitness has sparked speculation among tennis fans after he was observed wearing a compression stocking on his leg in Rome.
Nadal has arrived at the Italian Open and held his first practice session at the Foro Italico, intending to compete in the tournament. Despite climbing more than 200 ranks in the rankings, the 10-time Rome winner will start the main draw with a protected ranking.
The world’s top tennis players will gather in Rome for the next two weeks to compete in the final major tournament before Roland Garros. Nadal will decide whether to play in the French Open after assessing his fitness and competitiveness in Italy.
However, a recent video published by the tournament on its official X account (previously Twitter) has raised concerns that the Spaniard may be nursing a new ailment.
Nadal is seen wearing a full compression stocking on his right leg, likely being escorted to the practice courts by security personnel. He nodded and waved to some of the admirers who had patiently waited for his return to Italy after two years away.
It is worth noting that Nadal was not wearing the leg stocking during his first practice session on Saturday. If there is a developing injury, it will be interesting to hear him discuss it at his pre-tournament news conference.
Nadal is the most decorated player in Italian Open history, having won ten titles. He won his first trophy on debut in 2005. In addition to his eight victories in Rome, he also won the French Open.
But in 2022, he didn’t have the best week when he lost to Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16, but he defied the odds and won his 22nd Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
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