Rafael Nadal - How long will his body hold up?



Rafael Nadal



Rafael Nadal Parera, who began his professional tennis career in 2001, is a player known for his will to win.  He is primarily an aggressive, behind the baseline player, but is also an excellent volleyer.  He's extremely athletic, and his court coverage is one of his best defensive aspects.  Rafa hits his ground strokes with a heavy lefty topspin - the topspin causes the ball to fall into the court when it looks as if it will go well long/wide & also bounces high enough to keep his opponents on the defensive.
He has said that he gives 100% during matches, during practice, and even if he is playing five on five football (soccer for us Americans) with his friends - that is where his problem lays.  Every year since 2004 when he began to make his way up the rankings, he has had to take time off because of injuries - injuries that could have been avoided had he taken things a little easier off the court, and adjusted his tour schedule to give his body more rest.  The guy is hardcore, and we admire him for it, but at some point if he wants to be around the sport for an extended period of time, he'll need to change alter his work ehtic. 
April 2004, while playing Frenchman, Richard Gasquet in a quarter final match in the Estoril event, Rafa suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle.  This is the first of his many injuries, causing him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon.  Then in October 2005, he injured his foot again while playing in the Madrid Masters tournament.  This injury forced him to miss the year end Tennis Masters Cup, as well as the 2006 Australian Open.  June 2006, he suffered an injured shoulder in the quarterfinals of the Artois Championships.  He did go on to play Wimbledon, but lost in the final 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-2), 6-3 to Roger Federer.  During the second half of 2007, Nadal had to deal with a knee injury he suffered during the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer.  Towards the end of 2007, rumors swirled that the foot injuury he suffered in 2005 caused long-term damage.  His uncle/coach, Toni Nadal added to the rumor, saying the injury was serious.  Rafa denied it was true.
October 2008, he received treatment from the trainer while down 4-1, then retired from his quarter final match against Nikolay Davydenko after losing the first set 6-1 at the Paris Masters.  He also had to pull out of Spanish Davis Cup play as well as the 2008 year end Tennis Masters Cup - the second time he had to pull out of the year end Masters due to injury (first time was in 2005).  His injury was diagnosed as tendinitis.  February 2009, he had to pull of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, again with knee injuries.  After his defeat to Robin Söderling at the 2009 French Open, he announced that he now had tendinitis in both knees.  He had to withdraw from the 2009 Wimbledon and was unable to defend his title.  Rafa had to pull out of his quarter final match against Andy Murray at the 2010 Australian Open again because of his knees.  Then later in the year, he had to withdraw from the 2010 Paris Masters with left shoulder tendinitis.

Already this year, Rafa suffered a hamstring injury while playing David Ferrer in the 2011 Australian Open quarter finals.  He hurt himself in the third game of the match, but continued to play, losing 4-6, 2-6, 3-6.



Rafael & his ankle

Rafa & his knee



I really and truly hope that Rafa is able to stay healthy enough to have a long, successful tennis career, but with his history of injuries - mostly the knee, I pose the question to you - how long will his body hold up?