Yet the warrior-like instincts kicked in and we were all reminded that Nadal, as long as he is standing, remains a physical and psychological force of nature on a tennis court.
Round-up of football matches played around Europe on Saturday.
A couple of months ago, the 35-year-old Spaniard was worried that he might never return to the court again.
Denis Shapovalov said his Australian Open quarter-final opponent Rafael Nadal "100%" receives preferential treatment from officials and benefited from favouritism during the Spaniard's five-set victory on Tuesday.
Daniil Medvedev will play Rafael Nadal for the Australian Open title on Sunday after a stirring victory over Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-final on Friday.
Nadal, bidding for a record-extending 14th French Open title, won the first five games of the match as he looked on course to repeat his drubbing of the Serb in last year's final.
Rafael Nadal dropped a set at Roland Garros for the first time in two years but roared back to beat 10th seed Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 on Wednesday and storm into the French Open semi-finals.
Nadal struggled with the problem in the build-up to the year's first Grand Slam
The French Open will be held in Paris from May 22 to June 5.
Fourth-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and Norway's world number seven Casper Ruud also have a shot at top spot.
The 20-times Grand Slam champion said he was having some "unpleasant moments" but was hoping to feel better soon.
Rafael Nadal is taking no pleasure from the absence of great rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, even if it means he has a clearer shot at the Grand Slam title record.
Novak Djokovic has only faced Nick Kyrgios twice in his career, losing twice to him in 2017, so while he will be favourite to claim a seventh Wimbledon crown, he knows exactly how dangerous the unpredictable world number 40 Kyrgios can be.
Although hampered by a chronic foot injury that saw him out in the last 16 of the Italian Open, an event that precedes the French Open, the 21-time Grand Slam champion has looked pain-free in his bid for a 14th French Open crown.
Zverev twisted his ankle as he tried to retrieve a shot in the 12th game of the second set
'He has left a huge legacy that will live for a very long time'
Nadal has a habit of truly coming into his own at Roland Garros, as his 100-2 win-loss record testifies.
Having come through the US college system, Anderson turned professional in 2007.
Fritz delivers as US win inaugural United Cup crown
Medvedev will be glad to play the role of dream wrecker once again.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich shortlisted 34 images for its Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2023 competition from thousands of entries received from all over the world.
The Australian Open men's singles final offers a rematch of the dramatic 2021 French Open final, in which Djokovic came back from two sets down to snatch the title and leave Greek Tsitsipas heartbroken.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Thursday.
'I still feel my body is serving me, is listening to me well. That's the key I think when you get to 35-plus.'
Novak Djokovic overcame a slow start to outclass Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-6 (7) in the final and win his seventh Wimbledon title in London on Sunday.
Nadal, who would pass fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men's singles champion if he wins, had to dig deep again in a three-hour slugfest in the semi-final against Alexander Zverev before the German was forced to retire mid-match after injuring his ankle.
Moitra brought two birthday caps in the House to press her argument that the businessman being most talked about had "topi-pehnau-ed" the government.
'The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.'
It was only 13-time champion Rafael Nadal's third defeat here since his debut in 2005 and the first time in 115 best-of-five-set matches on clay that he had lost after taking the opening set.
Shapovalov will meet Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals.
A tap-in by Karim Benzema and a powerful strike by substitute Marco Asensio earned European champions Real Madrid a 2-0 win over 10-man Chelsea.
From Slam No 1 to Slam No 21 -- a summary of Nadal's 21 majors.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a ceremony to mark the start of the school year in Irpin.
Federer may have set the benchmark on how to do tennis retirements. He didn't go out in a blaze of lonely glory but in the warmth of friendships formed over the years, observes Deepti Patwardhan.
Top seed Rafael Nadal beat American qualifier Maxime Cressy 7-6(6), 6-3 to win the Melbourne Summer Set 1 ATP 250 event and build up momentum heading into the Australian Open.
Djokovic has refused to take the vaccine and appears set to miss out on the year's last Grand Slam
AC Milan entered the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in eleven years, with a draw in the round of 16 second leg against Tottenham Hotspurs.
Jabeur advances to first WTA 100 final in Madrid in style.
Nadal's great rival and fellow 20-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is also out of the US Open and will be sidelined for many months because he needs knee surgery.
