Rafael Nadal makes injury confession and admits to mistake ahead of Indian Wells | Tennis | Sport

“It is a wound that cannot be healed. It’s the truth. Some days it’s good, others not. You have to manage it as best you can and find a way to play as much as possible without limits. The goal is to play without fear of placing your foot where it is needed to hit the ball well.

“It was not possible for a long time. This year I was able to do that most of the time. That’s why I’m enjoying tennis again. But if you tell me that my foot is no longer a source of concern for me, it is not true.”

And Nadal did not rule out any future time on the sidelines as a result of the injury, admitting it would always be a concern.

He added: “I worry about my foot every day. We’ll see how it will evolve. For now, I couldn’t be happier. But there will be a time when I need to do a little more care, maybe stop for a little while and find the right balance between playing and resting. Getting good tournament planning right and sticking to it. It’s my aim”