Rafael Nadal has disclosed that his long-term use of anti-inflammatory medication during his tennis career has resulted in two perforations of his intestines. The 39-year-old Spaniard, who retired in 2024 with 22 Grand Slam titles, admitted he argued with his physio over the issue but felt he had no choice if he wanted to continue playing.
In an interview with Marca ahead of a new documentary, Nadal said: 'There was a time when I was living with constant pain. And there were many days when I had arguments with my physio about whether I should take anti-inflammatories or not.' He added that he eventually took control of his own medication, despite knowing the risks.
'I have two perforations in my intestines from taking so many anti-inflammatories. But if it hadn't been for that, my career would have been completely different,' Nadal said. He suggested in the documentary that he would have won 'twelve fewer Grand Slams' without the high-risk approach.
Nadal, who holds a record 14 French Open titles, won the last of those in 2022. He also secured three of his four US Open titles after 2012, the year he won the men's doubles at Indian Wells with Marc Lopez.
