Barcelona – Rafael Nadal has begun a four-to-five-day course of antibiotics in hopes that the treatment can help him delay appendicitis surgery until the end of the ATP season.
The world number three lost his opening match at the Shanghai Masters after revealing that he suffers from the early stages of an appendicitis problem. He and his team have opted to try the medication approach first.
He had played this month in China for the first time since Wimbledon, which was then followed by three months of wrist problems.
Nadal's handlers said he stopped off in Barcelona on Thursday for tests with his medical team, which resulted in a positive outlook.
“In medical terms his development is satisfactory and he is not currently showing any symptoms,” said a Nadal spokesman. “The treatment will continue for 4-5 days and depending on his recovery the necessary decisions will be taken on further treatment.”
Nadal's next events are due to be in Basel, starting a week from Monday, and the Paris Masters before the eight-man World Tour Finals in London from November 9.
The nine-time French Open winner is hoping to rule out any earlier operation, preferring to wait until the end of the season, during which his appendix is to be removed. – Sapa-dpa