Nadal has surgery in Barcelona and rules out “playing the Australian Open”

Rafa Nadal has ruled himself out of playing the 2026 Australian Open. But wait, isn’t Nadal retired? Yes he is, and his statement on the Melbourne tournament was just his light hearted way of letting us know he’s just had some surgery.

“Looks like I won’t be able to play the Australian Open in January”

Nadal announced the surgery himself, joking about his absence in Melbourne. “Looks like I won’t be playing the Australian Open in January. I had to undergo hand surgery because of an issue I’d been dealing with for a long time, but I hope to be fine soon!”

Nadal undergoes hand surgery

More than a year into retirement, the legendary Spaniard continues to deal with the lingering injuries that defined so much of his career. The former world No. 1 had the procedure at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona, where surgeons operated on his right hand to address advanced osteoarthritis in the base of the thumb.

The surgery was performed under the supervision of Nadal’s longtime physician, Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro, alongside Dr. Vilaró and lead surgeon Dr. Alex Lluch. The operation, a joint arthroplasty, was designed to relieve pain and restore mobility.

The latest procedure adds to a long medical file built over two decades on tour, most notably the Müller-Weiss syndrome that affected his left foot throughout his career yet never stopped him from becoming one of the greatest players in tennis history.

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