'Tennis became a race against time': Rafael Nadal looks back at the painful battles behind his legendary career

Rafael Nadal revealed he played through extreme pain and serious health issues during his career, including the rare Muller-Weiss syndrome, knee injuries and complications from painkillers.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion admitted he often feared each season could be his last. “Tennis became a race against time,” Nadal said, adding that passion for the sport outweighed the suffering.