Rafael Nadal
has criticised the ATP for not doing enough to protect players' health,
claiming the increase in hardcourt events will lead to injuries that
will affect players long after they retire.
"The ATP worries too little about the players," said Nadal, who is in Brazil to play his second tournament after a long absence with an injured left knee. "It should care more for them."
The 11-times grand slam winner said he does not expect major changes any time soon but thinks it is time officials start thinking about ways to help improve 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 that because of the way tennis is played, he does not see himself being able to 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 said hardcourts are "too tough" on players' bodies and made it impossible to prevent them from getting hurt from time to time. Tennis is the only major sport where players have to play on cement, said the best clay-court player of the Open era, adding that it is an issue that medical experts must get involved with, not only players.
"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 players' careers. I can't imagine footballers 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 ATP's attempt to strictly enforce the 25-second rule between serves, claiming 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."
"The ATP worries too little about the players," said Nadal, who is in Brazil to play his second tournament after a long absence with an injured left knee. "It should care more for them."
The 11-times grand slam winner said he does not expect major changes any time soon but thinks it is time officials start thinking about ways to help improve 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 that because of the way tennis is played, he does not see himself being able to 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 said hardcourts are "too tough" on players' bodies and made it impossible to prevent them from getting hurt from time to time. Tennis is the only major sport where players have to play on cement, said the best clay-court player of the Open era, adding that it is an issue that medical experts must get involved with, not only players.
"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 players' careers. I can't imagine footballers 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 ATP's attempt to strictly enforce the 25-second rule between serves, claiming 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."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/feb/12/rafael-nadal-injuries-atp
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