Toni just gave an interview on Spanish radio. Said:
- Rafa's career is not in any danger. They are just being cautious.
- Rafa would like to play in Rio 2016 and hopes to compete there (again I suppose emphasising this is not some career ending injury). They all want to extend his career as much as possible and to do that they are taking the conservative approach -- "no more patches". (By this I think he is referring to earlier remarks he made about how this year they've just tried to manage injury in a piece meal way by taking time off in Miami etc. but that is not correct. He needs to wait till he is 100%.)
- It is not the same tendinitis as before, but is related to the same issue.
- Toni's been hearing that Nadal's career will be short all his life - but even if he retired now it would not have been a short career as he's played for a decade as a professional - since he was 16.
They also had some doctor on who said Nadal's tendon had degenerated and needed 3 months of rest. Given that he had most of June off, July and now August, maybe a DC return in September is not too far fetched...
Basically, as always, I think the "his career is over" brigade are going a bit far. If anything this sounds like he's learned from past mistakes and is following exactly what the doctors tell him to try and get the most from what remains of his career. Beating any of the other 3 - Andy, Roger, Nole - would have been tough at the US Open - let alone when not at full match fitness and without competitive play. If he was still suffering a bit, then better to be cautious - at this stage he needs to basically try and maximise slam chances.
As a reminder - think of the Nadal we saw at WTF 2011 - listless, passionless, bagelled by Federer. Next major tournament a few months later - few games away from winning the Australian Open. His body will always be an issue but the fire and motivation to me has been a bigger concern - at least that seems to still be there and perhaps be even stronger due to setbacks. Sounds like Rio 2016 might just be the think that keeps him going even if it seems farfetched right now that he'd be competitive in 4 years time. :lol:
Re: Rafael Nadal Injury/Health Update Thread : Spanish Press: Nadal not in DC etc
I'm starting to think this injury is more mental than physical. Has he lost the passion to compete? Four months without competing and now people doubting him for the AO already when it's 60 odd days away, that would only be the case if it's a chronic problem, a broken bone or damaged ligaments.
I'm starting to think this injury is more mental than physical. Has he lost the passion to compete? Four months without competing and now people doubting him for the AO already when it's 60 odd days away, that would only be the case if it's a chronic problem, a broken bone or damaged ligaments.
Re: Rafael Nadal Injury/Health Update Thread : Spanish Press: Nadal not in DC etc
he had said for long that his "A plan" was to come back for the start of 2013 and it was obvious that it was tough to come back to play at once the WTF then I don't think this news deserves catastrophical conclusions.
He seems to stay steady on his plan, that's all.
What's more surprising to me is that he only withdraws now whereas from his words, he hasn't even started practising with the racket back, but well it comes from a guy who started 2012 season having not practised tennis in december 2011 and won Monte-Carlo after having only practised tennis for 3 days, then he's clearly not afraid of any sudden comeback.
There's still plenty of time before the start of 2013 season.
Re: Rafael Nadal Injury/Health Update Thread : Spanish Press: Nadal not in DC etc
Come on, Nadal. We can understand your need to hide in shame after your cowardly display of bad sportsmanship and inept tennis against Rosol but emough is enough. Come play the WTF again--In times like these we need comedic relief.
Well, Tipsarevic is not confirmed yet. As you might now, Paris is the Masters tournament with most surprising finalists in recent years. There is still the possibility that someone will push Tipsy out of the MD.
Re: Rafael Nadal Injury/Health Update Thread : Spanish Press: Nadal not in DC etc
I don't see what's so bad this year. Murray has actually won a slam and is playing well, Djokovic isn't burnt out and is playing well and indoors, Federer is Federer. We're missing Nadal but he wasn't a factor last year. Sure, he got to the final in 2010 and has reached some semis, but his record is not stellar there.
Tipsy, Berdych, Tsonga and Ferrer are all stronger than Fish, so I fail to see how the field this year is so much worse :shrug:
I don't see what's so bad this year. Murray has actually won a slam and is playing well, Djokovic isn't burnt out and is playing well and indoors, Federer is Federer. We're missing Nadal but he wasn't a factor last year. Sure, he got to the final in 2010 and has reached some semis, but his record is not stellar there.
Tipsy, Berdych, Tsonga and Ferrer are all stronger than Fish, so I fail to see how the field this year is so much worse :shrug:
There's nothing wrong with the field this year. The players who manage to accumulate the most points during the year are the ones who qualify, and rightly so. :shrug:
Of course it's a sad omission that Rafa can't be there, but all the best to him for a speedy recovery - and the positive thing about his absence post Wimbledon will be that he'll have the opportunity to pick up tons of points in the upcoming season during that same period.
BTW, Gasquet still has a chance of overtaking Tipsy, even if it's a small chance.
from what I read he said it's the captain's decision, but Nadal himself doesn't think he'll be able to play well enough.
if there's a mistake, it will be Corretja's (but if Nadal doesn't play and Spain loses you can be sure that his media will blame him harshly for Nadal not playing : this kind of nonsense/accusing media gossiping are the rule in Davis cup) but I don't think he will play DC final anyway.
If you want to talk of the WTF create a separate thread, I fail to see what's so special about this year's field except Nadal's absence (not really new) and some people's trolling.
Toni Nadal said his nephew will take back the racket next week.
Schedule : Abu Dhabi and Doha are official before the Australian open, probably not Kooyong which organizer wanted Nadal.
The Google translation of the article contains a description of the injuries :
Nadal, 26, is recovering from two injuries. One is in the left knee, the "Hoffa syndrome", an inflammation of the area behind the fat and patellar tendon below the kneecap. The other is a partial tear of the patellar tendon in the same knee. "Things are going well. But the doctor said we had to strengthen the tendon, and there we are," said Toni Nadal.
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