By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Despite being diagnosed with appendicitis, Rafael Nadal has elected to play through the pain in Shanghai this week.
Photo Source: AP
Rafael Nadal says he has been diagnosed with the early stages of appendicitis by doctors, but that he will forgo surgery and instead try to play through the pain at this week’s Shanghai Rolex Masters, where he is scheduled to meet Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday.
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Nadal first felt pain in his abdomen on Saturday. After a hospital visit on Sunday, the Spaniard has been placed on aggressive antibiotics. The fourteen-time Grand Slam champion hopes they can get him through the week, after which he will return to Majorca and consider having the surgery.
"I am not going to go for surgery [now]. That's great news for me today. That's why I'm here practicing for 45 minutes, and trying to play tomorrow. But obviously I am not in my best condition," Nadal said on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Nadal, who recently missed two months due to a right wrist injury, is in the second tournament of his comeback. He was knocked out of last week’s China Open in Beijing by Martin Klizan in the quarterfinals.
“I am here in Shanghai. I just want to try. Then when I go back home, I will talk about the situation with my doctor," he added.