Mum's the Word on Nadal's Right Knee Ahead of Week Two at U.S.Open

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Mum's the Word on Nadal's Right Knee Ahead of Week Two at U.S.Open

Rafael Nadal’s injury concerns became public on Day 5 of the U.S. Open when the Spaniard had tape on his right knee and twice needed to see the trainer during his four-set victory over Karen Khachanov.

Nadal received the strapping on his knee after the first set and then talked to the trainer again about the injury after the second set. But he showed no visible sign of struggle and looked to be perfectly fit as he finished off his 5-7 7-5 7-6(7) 7-6(3) victory on Friday.

After the match Nadal expressed his desire not to talk about his knee, but did offer this quote:

“Just something that I felt, but I try always during the tournaments don't speak much about these kind of things,” he said. “When the tournament is over is better and easier to talk. But my personal feeling is I going to be at my 100% for the next one.”

He did, however, comment on the physicality of the match.

“Yeah, for me personally, of course, it was a physical, demanding match,” he said. “It was a mentally demanding match. That's why we practice every day, to play these kind of matches in a great atmosphere in front of an amazing crowd.”

During the match Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya hinted that the problem was already in existence prior to the match. Nadal has a long history of knee problems, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise during such a demanding stretch of the season—the Spaniard has already played 46 matches in 2018.

"Rafa's knee felt sore but nothing to worry about,” he said, according to French journalist Carole Bouchard. "Sometimes he feels it more than other but he deals with it really well so that's not an excuse."

During a practice session today, Nadal practiced without the strapping (see video above).

The Spaniard will face Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the round of 16 on Sunday. He has won ten consecutive matches at the U.S. Open and is bidding to become the first ATP player to repeat as champion in New York since Roger Federer in 2008.

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