Nadal after hand surgery: Manacor keeps its fingers crossed for his arm in a cast

Nadal after hand surgery: Manacor keeps its fingers crossed for his arm in a cast

Arthroplasty on the thumb carpometacarpal joint in Barcelona — a procedure many on the island are following closely

On Thursday Rafa Nadal underwent surgery on his right hand at Centro Médico Teknon in Barcelona. The reason for the procedure was severe osteoarthritis in the thumb carpometacarpal joint; an arthroplasty was performed. The surgeon was Alex Lluch, accompanied by his longtime personal doctor Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro and Dr. Jaume Vilaró. A day later Nadal himself posted a photo from the hospital and commented, with his typical dark humour, that the Australian Open probably wouldn't be on his calendar this year.

That the 22-time Grand Slam winner finds himself back on the operating table is for the people of Mallorca not just a headline but something personal. In Manacor, where Nadal grew up and where his tennis academy has shaped the townscape, regulars sit a little closer together in winter. On the Plaça del Conqueridor the old men trade memories of matches over coffee; the woman at the bakery on Carrer Bisbe shrugs as she wraps the ensaimadas and says: “The boy is in pain, but he is strong.”

The hand operation is not Nadal's first medical episode: in June 2023 he underwent arthroscopic treatment on the psoas tendon of his left hip — also at the Teknon clinic and involving the American sports surgeon Marc Philippon. The return to the court afterwards was bumpy; his comeback in Melbourne 2024 ended in the first match against Jordan Thompson with a new injury. In the spring he won in Barcelona against Flavio Cobolli, then lost to Alex de Miñaur. More ups and downs followed: a round-of-16 exit in Madrid against Jiří Lehečka, a short run in Rome and an early exit in Paris against Alexander Zverev. His best result that year was the final in Båstad against Nuno Borges. The Olympic Games and the Davis Cup final were his last major appearances before his retirement in November 2024.

All of this explains why a hand operation is being watched closely on the island. For many Mallorcans Nadal is more than an athlete; he is a point of identification. That the treatment takes place in Barcelona also highlights something people like to emphasize here: the availability of highly specialized medicine nearby — a comfort for families who live here or care for elderly relatives.

In the warm, calm manner observed on cool December days along the promenade in Palma, there is a familiar mixture of concern and pragmatism. On the Passeig Mallorca people stroll in heavy coats, dogs pull on leashes, and a few young players on the courts at Club de Tenis de Palma nod when Nadal's name comes up. Reactions range from quiet sympathy to the expectation that patience is more important than haste now.

Why is this news good for Mallorca? Because it shows the island once more as the home of someone who has moved a lot in the world but remains rooted here. Nadal has inspired generations of children to pick up a racket; his situation is a reminder that top performance also brings injuries — and that the community relies on healing. For the tennis students in Manacor it is a lesson in endurance: professionals need care networks, appropriate medical support, and time.

For the coming weeks that means: rest, physiotherapy and patience. Those who know Nadal know that he will work meticulously — but perhaps now more behind the scenes, at the academy, planning, watching younger talent. For Mallorca that means: a role model who is no longer on court every day but still present.

In the end remains an image found in the small scenes of the island: the kiosk owner in Manacor handing the next customer the newspaper and saying “Get well soon, Rafa”, the neighbor's quiet laugh as she carefully slips a thumb warmer into a small package, and the hope that the man from Manacor will soon have his hands free again — at least for the things that mean most to him.

Outlook: Operations like this are routine today, but recovery is individual. For the island it is a reminder: careers to be applauded also need space to heal. We wish Rafa Nadal good health — and take inspiration from how a community sticks together.