Overview
- Nadal confirmed he had surgery on his right hand to address persistent pain and limited mobility at the base of his thumb, sharing a photo with his arm in a sling.
- His representative said the operation’s goal was to reduce pain and restore movement in the trapezio-metacarpal joint affected by severe osteoarthritis.
- Spanish outlets reported the procedure was an arthroplasty at Barcelona’s Centro Médico Teknon, involving team doctor Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro and surgeon Alex Lluch.
- Typical recovery for this surgery includes weeks of immobilization followed by progressive rehabilitation, so any return to athletic activity remains uncertain.
- Nadal joked he likely will not play the Australian Open in January, and he has been retired from professional tennis since late 2024.