Rafael Nadal Injury Update: 'Rafa' Plays Despite Appendicitis, Loses to Feliciano Lopez in Shanghai Masters 2014 Opener
Rafael Nadal decided to play in the second round of the 2014 Shanghai Masters despite being diagnosed with early stages of appendicitis, but his effort was not enough to advance.
Nadal, who is still trying to regain his old form after having a long layoff due to a wrist injury, took a disappointing 6-3, 7-6 (6) loss to compatriot Feliciano Lopez in their second-round match, where he blew a 5-2 lead in the second set.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion was clearly out of his rhythm after he was diagnosed with mild appendicitis, saying after the match that he was feeling dizzy during the game -- possibly because of the antibiotics that he has been taking -- but he also gave credit to his fellow Spaniard for playing well against him.
"It's the same way that I felt before. A little bit more dizzy now," Nadal said via the ATP World Tour website. "But that's it. Nothing that I have to worry about. When you lose a match, it is not the moment to talk about obvious things. I lost. Feli played better than me."
Now that he is out of the tournament, Nadal plans to consult his personal doctor about his options, but the Spanish tennis superstar said that he will likely delay surgery until the end of the year as he is planning to participate in the remaining big tennis events this year.
"My thought is continue with Basel, Paris and London," Nadal said. "It is true that the past few months I did not have the best of luck. I didn't have the best of luck since Wimbledon. I was playing a good year, very positive year. After that I was unlucky with the wrist, what's going on now. Now there remain three more tournaments for me."
Nadal also failed to impress at the 2014 China Open where he lost to Martin Klizan in the quarterfinals, but the 28-year-old Mallorca, Spain native said that he is not thinking about the results of his recent matches, pointing out that he is just trying to get into his rhythm.
"I don't expect anything from these two tournaments," Nadal said via ESPN. "I expect just to come here and play again and practice and feel a little bit again the competition, try to get in rhythm as soon as possible."
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