Rafa Nadal, despite having already retired from the courts, remains a current topic as a reference for a great athlete. It is precisely about him that Pedro J. Delgado has shared his opinion.
This famous surgeon has publicly mentioned the situation the tennis player experienced in the final stretch of his career. So much so that he has stated: "Rafa Nadal's doctors have given him this advice."
Rafa Nadal and the toughness of a career marked by injuries
Throughout his more than twenty years at the elite level, Rafa Nadal has dealt with an endless list of injuries. Knees, back, abdominals, and above all, chronic Müller-Weiss syndrome in his left foot were constant obstacles. However, the Mallorcan always found a way to come back, competing with a level of physical demand that even surprised specialists.
Surgeon Pedro J. Delgado, interviewed by El Mundo, pointed out that any responsible doctor would have advised the player to stop long before his official retirement.
He stated: "Rafa Nadal's doctors have given him this advice. I'm sure they advised him to stop earlier."
"Maybe it was him who didn't want to. He's a superman, the perfect example of that brutal capacity for suffering. But if the athlete doesn't want to, it's very difficult to stop him, and Nadal has an extremely high level of demand for himself and for his country."
Delgado's words put forward a reality that many suspected: the Manacor native made decisions that prioritized his hunger for victory over his long-term health. In fact, he himself confessed on several occasions that he played under injections and shock treatments, fully aware that he was pushing his body to the limit.
Pedro J. Delgado's opinion on Nadal's legacy
Pedro J. Delgado himself wanted to clarify that his comment is not a criticism, but a recognition of the mentality of an unrepeatable athlete. He emphasized that the aforementioned tennis player has not only left titles, but also a lesson in resilience.
In his opinion, the Manacor native is a mirror for younger generations. Yes, because he shows that with effort and discipline, adversities can be overcome.
However, he also made it clear that this same drive for self-improvement can be a double-edged sword when it comes to health. Specifically, he has shown that all the injuries, ailments, and treatments he has undergone will have taken a toll and will continue to do so forever. He stated: "Unfortunately, yes, because the overloads those knees, those hips, that foot, those wrists have suffered..."
As if that were not enough, he went on to state that changes in sports, in general, will affect all athletes in terms of health. He did so by stating: "The technical demands they have are extremely high. Obviously, that too will be paid for in the future, with an overload."
"But, from a medical point of view, we have to help them so they can reach the best possible condition. I insist, however, that the balance between medicine and sports is very complicated."
Pedro J. Delgado's message is revealing: although doctors advised Rafa Nadal to stop earlier, he chose to keep fighting. That decision explains why he achieved 22 Grand Slams and why his name will always be among the greatest in tennis history.
It also reminds us that behind the myth, there is a person. Yes, who lived with pain and took risks that few would accept.