Rafael Nadal reacts to falling out of Top 10 for the first time since 2005

| by Kadir Macar

Rafael Nadal has been an indomitable force in the sport since breaking into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings in 2005 as an 18-year-old.

Despite his recent drop to the eighth spot and expected drop out of the Top 10, which will come after the 2023 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, Nadal has remained optimistic and focused on the bigger picture - his health and his love for the game.

In a recent interview, Nadal revealed how his 18-year run in the top 10 is nothing short of a miracle, given the various injuries he has faced throughout his career. He broke Jimmy Connors' record of 789 consecutive weeks inside the top 10 in 2020, but this year saw him slip to his lowest position since January 2017. Despite this, Nadal has accepted his current situation, speaking to Punto de Break, he said:

"I prefer to be in the top-10, it's obvious, but in the end you have to accept things as they come."

Nadal's recent struggles with injuries have been well-documented, including a broken rib, two abdominal tears, and now the psoas, and foot problems. He acknowledges that these challenges make it tough to maintain a top 10 ranking, especially in a sport where rankings last only for 52 weeks.

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"With all the injuries I've had over the last 18 years, not having left the top-10 at any occasion is practically a miracle. A time has come when a lot has happened in the last year: a broken rib, two abdominal tears, now the psoas, foot problems. There are many things that, in tennis, with a ranking that lasts a year. You know if you don't play, you're out of the top-10."

With the clay season around the corner, Nadal is hopeful that he can add points to his ranking, but his ultimate goal remains Roland Garros, where the Spaniard will want to win his 23rd Grand Slam title and 15th title on the clay in Paris.

"Now the clay season is coming and we have to try to add [points], but the important thing for me, beyond all that, is to try to be healthy, when I compete on gravel to feel that I can compete for what I want and fight for the ultimate goal, which now It has to be Roland Garros itself."

The Slam cancelled as Nadal & Alcaraz both withdraw
The Slam cancelled as Nadal & Alcaraz both withdraw

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