Just read this column by Nadal. Thought it would be interesting to hear your thoughts and comments about what he said...
SAO PAULO (AP) -- Rafael Nadal criticized the ATP on Tuesday for not doing enough to protect players' health, saying the increase in hard-court events will lead to long-term injuries that will affect players after they retire.
''The ATP worries too little about the players,'' said Nadal, who was in Brazil to play his second tournament after a seven-month layoff from a left-knee injury. ''It should care more for them.''
The 11-time Grand Slam winner said he doesn't expect major changes anytime soon, but thinks it's time tennis officials consider ways to improve the players' long-term health.
''For future generations, it would be good to see a less aggressive tennis life,'' he said. ''Not only because of what happens during your career, but also because of what happens after your career, about how is your body when your tennis career is over.''
Nadal said because of the way he's played tennis, it's unlikely he'll be a recreational athlete after his professional career.
''After ending the career it would be nice to be able to play football with friends or tennis,'' he said. ''But with this surface, I don't think it's going to be possible.''
The 26-year-old Nadal said hard courts were ''too tough'' on players' bodies and made it difficult to avoid injuries. Tennis is the only major sport where players have to play on cement, said the greatest clay-court player of the Open era.
''This is not a subject for the players, it's a matter for doctors,'' he said. ''The ATP has to start thinking about ways to lengthen the players' careers. I can't imagine football players playing on cement, I can't imagine any other sport involving aggressive movements such as tennis being played on such aggressive surfaces such as ours. We are the only sport in the world making this mistake, and it won't change.''
Nadal also complained about the tour's attempt to strictly enforce the 25-second rule between serves, saying it will not benefit the sport.
''People like to see great rallies, long matches, and for that to happen, the 25 seconds are not enough,'' he said. ''If the ATP wants a sport which is faster but doesn't take into consideration a lot of strategy or great rallies, then it's right doing this. I think the players in the locker rooms are not very happy with that rule.''
Nadal, who lost in the final of his first comeback tournament in Chile last week, said he wasn't worried about wins and his main focus is to regain rhythm on the court.
''I need time, I need weeks of matches and practice,'' he said. ''I'm not prepared to think about titles yet, I'm thinking day-to-day. After so many months without playing, it's hard to think about titles.''
Nadal said he's still feeling pain in his knee, but it's getting better.
''There are days in which it hurts and it limits me physically, but there are days when it's better,'' he said. ''During the bad days it's complicated. But it's positive because a month ago maybe 80 percent of the days were bad, now it's 70 percent of the days and next week or within a month it will probably be 50 percent.''
Nadal dismissed changing his style to try to extend his career.
''I'm not that good to be able to reprogram my style, I only have one, it's virtually impossible to change it,'' he said. ''I'm confident that my body will hold up. I'm not sure it will happen next week, or next year, but I'm confident that it will be like before again.''
He said he wants to be fully fit to play at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which he acknowledged likely will be his last.
''Playing in 2016 is a long-term goal, but it's very real,'' he said. ''I will be working daily to make sure I can play in 2016 and play well.''
8 comments:
Am I missing something? 25 seconds? I thought it was 20.
CHANGE THE RULES FOR RAFA AND OFFICIALS!!!!!!!
Allow only three drop shots per match – four on clay
No hitting high topspin balls above the opponents head - that is a strain on the shoulders
ALL SECOND SERVES are under handed
Only play best of three with a tie-break for the third – unless the players would rather just play one set or just flip
Allow 47-57 seconds between points - unless the rally was more than seven hits then allow a full minute or whatever feels best for the sweatiest player
GRUNTING should be expanded to singing squeals and outburst of opera as long as the ball is traveling toward the squealer/opera performer
A neck message and foot rub is mandatory after first and second set – unless it was ended a tie-breaker then both player will receive a 17 minute full back rub – shirts optional (both genders)
ALL PLAYERS GET A THEROPY session with a license doctor after ALL losses – court side
Last rule change for RAFA – butt picking is a mental illness that needs to be nipped in the bud… provide sideline doctors that can rush ointment to the infected area on odd change overs
FINALLY – for the OFFICIALS
I'd like to say that as an official I have LONG TERM CONCERNS TOO... my ass is getting WAY TOO big because I have to continue sitting in that small chair for multiple hours watching over paid players push the 20 second mark
My knees are hurting from climbing into these rickety old chairs – how about mandatory elevators or lifts for all chairs
Ear plugs should not only be provided to the chair and line officials by the TD – but, the plugs should be changed on every ball change
Mentally, match by match, I am breaking down – I am going to snap if a 12 and under looks at me like that again!
Parents should be allowed to sit in the their cars ONLY with the windows up
Officials Schools should include concealed gun training course
If we continue to have to eat high calorie lunches, dinners, snacks and sodas - I fear that my heart will not make it – TDs should provide calorie counts on all food provided
I GUESS THE REAL QUESTION IS - WHERE IS OUR GOVERNMENT - WHY ARE THEY NOT LOOKING OUT FOR US???
Un-Respectfully and obviously un-responsible,
BACO
Aren't you glad that we have BACO as one of our guest writers?
Game, Set, Match.... BACO.
Rafael is starting to show his age. Most tennis pros do not make it much after 30 years of age. The main changes that I would suggest is fewer sets for the men and go to a tie breaker on the last set.
Baco 20 at gs 25 atp tour and challengers. Keep up on the rules!! But good points anyway.
You miss his main point- hard courts are harder on the body than clay. Clay courts are easier on the hips and knees. I regularly play on clay and think this is certainly true. Clubs and municipalities don't like clay, however, because of the cost to maintain them. That is just a fact of life. That being said, Rafa's real problem is that his style of play was going to destroy his joints no matter what surface he plays on.
Rafa is one of the great stars of the last decade and hopefully one of the greats of the next 5 to 10 years! If we could elongate the careers of these by considering these issues (surfaces, time between points, etc), it is worth doing. A few extra years rather than a few less years would be worthwhile. Did we love Agassi's comeback in his 30s? Agassi pulled off much of his longevity with his dream team of support staff and trainers, and used his intelligence to select tournaments, I'm sure. It would be nice to see the top 4 expand to the top 8 or 10 players, so there was more uncertainty in who would win the slams. But, I digress somewhat...
Thanks.
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