Help
3/10/13 9:49 PM | Johan Lindahl
Novak Djokovic admits he's well impressed by the work ethic of knee injury victim Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard continues to throw himself back into tennis, now moving onto the hardcourt tests after winning two titles last month in his return to the more forgiving clay.
The top seed at the Indian Wells Masters said that due to Nadal's take-no-prisoners style, it's no wonder that the Spaniard has done damage to his knees as he moves onto cement for the first time in a year.
"He really suffers on the hard courts, which I understand are the most difficult for him, are taking the toll on his knees and on his health," said the Serb, who has gone undefeated so far this season with titles over Andy Murray at the Australian Open and Tomas Berdych last weekend in Dubai.
"I've been his colleague and rival for last seven, eight years, and I have been watching him and playing against him on different surfaces. I understand what he has to go through to play in such style, because he's very physical and it's very demanding for him."
Nadal expends all of his energies during matches on other surfaces just like he does naturally on his native clay. That kind of punishing style has surely led to his string of knee problems, the last of which kept him off court for seven months.
"He loves to slide. He loves to run around the court and do a lot of dynamic strong movements that eventually can hurt him, as they did in the last seven months," said No. 1 Djokovic. "I don't know how his recovery process is, but being so long off the tour, I'm sure that he has taken his time and is very patient. (Not to play for so long) really hurts because it's inside of you. You're so competitive and you love the sport you want to play."
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Tell a friend »
yes, you said it!
Rafa's knee problem isn't because of his punishing style but because of his congenital foot problem. Rafa plays with a lot of pain.
Wonder what it would have been like if Rafa's foot had been normal. Maybe he wouldn't have been the Rafa we love. Being hugely talented, so mentally strong and so disciplined, he would have probably won everything in sight and tennis might have become boring? But I am sure he would still have been humble unlike you know who.
holdserve , 3/11/13 12:59 AM
Djokovic's true rival has always been Nadal and he respects him.
pennster , 3/11/13 4:25 AM
'He loves to slide. He loves to run around the court and do a lot of dynamic strong movements...'
Doesn't Nole do that too these days?? It's all those plus a foot issue that have done Rafa in, not those sliding or movements alone. If not, a few years down the road, we'll be seeing similar injury issues from Nole!
Now that Rafa's tendinitis problem is under control after all those months of rest, I really hope that Rafa will skip some HC events, maybe skipping two HC Masters starting from next year when he can skip two mandatory Masters; and skips one 500 event, the one after USO which is played on HC.
HCs are not Rafa's favorite surfaces so it'll be wise that he plays the minimum required numbers on them. Nole can play as many HC events as he wants, as its obviously his favorite surface, having his best results on them. Nole is very wise in cutting down the number of events he plays each year to about sixteen after he became no.1; this way he's allowing himself time to rest and recover, reducing the wear and tear on his body. I wish for Rafa to do the same and be more selective in the events that he plays.
luckystar , 3/11/13 4:44 AM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2013, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
of course he is. GOAT
rafakid , 3/11/13 12:41 AM