Once again, Rafael Nadal’s career has been put on hold by injury. This latest setback occurred during his quarterfinal match at the Australian Open, a gimp right leg that forced him to retire before the finish against Marin Cilic and eliminated the chance of another meeting in the finals with his (older) rival, Roger Federer, who that evening, advanced to the semis.
The commentators all shook their heads in sympathy and chagrin, pointing out, as they always do, the physical intensity with which Nadal plays, and the inevitable wear and tear on the body. Nadal himself blamed the hard surfaces that players are made to perform on at tournaments like the Australian, and the U.S., Open. Though one commentary pointed out that Wawrinka’s and Murray’s injuries both occurred on the red clay of Roland Garros, Nadal’s nirvana.
What nobody ever mentions is Nadal’s physique. The most injured player in the game is also the only one who looks like a body builder, with meaty shoulders and Popeye arms (which he once again showcased through a collection of sleeveless shirts). Does this top-heavy form put extra stress on his legs (he’s been plagued by knee problems throughout his career), especially when he starts and stops with his trademark ferocity? Does the Spaniard’s beach body work against him on the court? It’s obvious from players like Hyeon Chung (Federer’s next opponent) that you don’t have to be a muscleman to hit with power. Perhaps it’s to Nadal’s own detriment that he looks ready to box kangaroos.
