Nadal, out for six weeks, “sunk and sad” because of the rib fissure

Palma, 22 Mar Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal suffers from a stress fissure of the third left costal arch that occurred last Saturday in the Indian Wells semifinal match against compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and will remain out for between four and six weeks. “I'm sad and sunk,” said Nadal upon learning about the diagnosis of his injury made this Tuesday in Barcelona by Dr. Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro “after the relevant MRI and CT tests.” “After carrying out the relevant MRI and CT tests, Don Rafael Nadal Parera presents a stress crack of the third left costal arch,” says Ruiz-Cotorro. “It's not good news and I didn't expect this. I am sunk and sad because after the start of the season that I had so good, I reached a very important part of the year with very good feelings and good results. But hey, I have always had that spirit of struggle and improvement and what I will do is have patience and work hard after my recovery. Once again thank everyone for their support”, adds the Balearic tennis player. Rafa Nadal returned to Spain on Tuesday after losing the Indian Wells final to American Taylor Fritz. During the match, the Mallorcan complained that he was breathing “as if he had a needle in his chest” and had to be attended by the medical services of the ATP 1000 tournament. As soon as he landed in Madrid, he went to Barcelona where he was treated by his medical team led by Dr. Ruiz-Cotorro. The injury is a major setback for the world's No. 3 tennis player, who in the coming weeks was going to prepare for the clay season to face the tournaments of Monte Carlo, Conde de Godó, Rome and Roland Garros. CHIEF 1000336 pcl/jad