Rafael Nadal has had countless physical problems during his long career, also due to a very wasteful style of play. Although he has had to sit out several tournaments, the Spaniard has demonstrated a longevity that very few would have expected when he set foot on the circuit.
The former world number 1 left everyone speechless last year, winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros against all odds. Returning from a 2021 with just seven tournaments played, the Majorcan is back in vogue reiterating that he is a living legend of the sport.
The last few months have been quite complicated for Rafa, who hasn’t been able to express his best tennis since the semifinal he reached at Wimbledon. The beginning of 2023 did not bring him luck, given that the Iberian suffered a second-degree injury to his ileo-psoas during the Australian Open.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has already given up on the ATPs in Doha and Dubai, while his presence in Indian Wells and Miami remains uncertain. It’s not unlikely that Nadal will choose to preserve his body ahead of the clay court season.
Bajin on Rafa Nadal
Tennis legend Serena Williams’ former hitting partner Sascha Bajin recently explained why Rafael Nadal was forced to lose muscle in his early days to protect his knees. “Guys it’s simple. Muscle mass is weight.
Every unnecessary kg you have to carry extra with you is multiplied when sliding into a ball on hard court. Your knees (joints) in general are absorbing most of the impact. Specially muscle on the upper body is unnecessary for tennis,” Bajin wrote.
“A huge bicep for for example is not really tennis specific for me. And the guys play 5 sets at slams and you know getting ankle weights with just 1lbs on each leg make a huge difference. So this can def weigh you down and make you slower and more tired,” Bajin wrote.
Doubles specialist Horacio Zeballos reckons Rafael Nadal ending his career could be due to more mental issues than physical ones after his latest injury setback. “If it is the end, it would be because of something more mental than physical.
It is very difficult to say because he has surprised us many times with his ability to come back so well after injuries. I speak to you as a tennis fan more than from logic. I hope he will be there this year because it is very nice to see him play,” he said.
