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Rafael Nadal Undergoes Right-Hand Surgery, Signals Australian Open Absence

The 22-time major winner says the operation addresses chronic thumb-base arthritis, signaling he will skip January’s Australian Open.

Overview

  • Surgeons at Barcelona’s Teknon Medical Center performed an arthroplasty on the trapeziometacarpal joint of Nadal’s right hand to relieve pain and restore mobility.
  • The procedure was carried out by Dr. Alex Lluch under the supervision of Nadal’s physician Dr. Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro, with participation from Dr. Jaume Vilaró.
  • Nadal announced the operation on social media with a photo of his right arm in a sling and joked that he would not be able to play the Australian Open.
  • The retired star, who plays left-handed, described the issue as a long-standing problem affecting the base of his right thumb.
  • This follows a prior Teknon surgery about 18 months ago on his left psoas tendon, adding to a run of injuries that marked his late-career comeback attempts.