Three months into the 2016 tennis season, one Grand Slam has been done and dusted, and we’re now stuck into the Miami Masters. Several players have been struggling with injury already, some with the vestiges of last year, some new.
Early on in the year, here's a look at some players who have been struggling:
Roger Federer
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The dynamic Swiss is known for his constantly evolving skills and game, but has been unable to start 2016 on a particularly strong note. After losing out in the semi-finals to reigning (and eventual) champion Novak Djokovic, the Swiss revealed he had torn his meniscus and would be undergoing surgery and subsequent rehabilitation.
Federer took a break following the year-opening Grand Slam, and after sitting out Indian Wells said he would return in time for the Miami Masters. Fans were excited for the Miami lineup, which would see Federer take on longtime rival Juan Martin del Potro in Key Biscayne.
Unfortunately, Federer’s health failed him yet again. Although he has recovered from his knee injury, Federer came down with a virus that left him unable to play. He has since withdrawn from the Miami Masters.
Rafael Nadal
Nadal has not had the most fruitful year as far as tennis goes. Plagued by repeated calls to replace longtime coach ‘Uncle Toni,’ a move Nadal refuses to make, the former World No. 1 has of late been a shadow of his former self. At the 2016 Australian Open, a faltering Nadal, defeated by compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the first round, saw the earliest ever Grand Slam exit of his career.
He has not publicly faced a single specific injury, but appears to be singularly fatigued through tournaments. Almost losing to teenager Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells earlier in March, Nadal managed somewhat of a fight against Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the tournament before crashing out.
Most recently, level at one set apiece with Bosnian ace Damir Dumhur at the Miami Open and flagging, a tired Nadal withdrew with dizziness and fatigue. With a stamina that has appeared to be waning since the beginning of the season and a stark difference from the Nadal fans have seen even as recently as a year ago, the King of Clay is constantly dealing with waning energy levels – which might be treated as a chronic injury unto themselves.
Sergiy Stakhovsky
Ukrainian ace Sergiy Stakhovsky has not had the quickest start to 2016, starting off the season in 62nd on the ATP rankings and quickly dropping. With a slew of first round exits to players more and less experienced than himself, Stakhovsky dropped to 115th in the rankings. Ironically, Stakhovsky’s losses to those ranked higher than himself have been closer than those less experienced.
The 30-year-old’s nemesis so far this year has been Swiss ace and two-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, with the pair most recently facing off at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, with World No. 4 Wawrinka struggling against a spirited performance from Stakhovsky.
Unfortunately for Stakhovsky, he lost out after finally having hit some sort of stride; y playing at a BNP Paribas Challenger event in France, Stakhovsky retired from that tournament in pain, losing to Andrey Rublev by walkover.
He played American Jack Sock at the ongoing Miami Masters, and retired from their match a set down; he later revealed a back injury that was causing him recurrent pain, and that he would be out of action for a month.
This will put Stakhovsky’s French Open participation in jeopardy, so it remains to be seen whether he can manage a return and better his highest third-round finish at a Grand Slam.
Jelena Jankovic
The Serbian ace has managed to stay in the top 30, currently at 26th, but going by her performances so far this year, Jankovic may see a decline in the rankings.
The former World No. 1 has not started 2016 on a particularly strong note, and after a series of early losses on the WTA tour, she only recently saw her highest-ever finish – losing in straight sets to Agnieszka Radwanska in the round of 16 at Indian Wells.
Following the tournament, Jankovic has now revealed she is struggling with a back injury, retiring from her first round match against Polish player Magda Linette only a game in.
Jankovic has not publicly released a statement, so it is as yet unclear whether the injury will affect her participation in the French Open; the Serb has reached the semi-finals of the tournament on three occasions.
Bernard Tomic
Quickly gaining a reputation like his compatriot Nick Kyrgios, Tomic is becoming more well-known for his foul-mouthed rants off court than his tennis skills. The 23-year-old Australian currently rounds up the men’s top 20, so is obiously not lacking in the skills department.
Tomic has played very well in 2016, with every one of his losses, the majority to players ranked higher than himself, coming in very closely-fought contests – including one against World No. 2 Andy Murray, who was taxed to a three-set tiebreaker by the young Australian.
Playing 14th-ranked Canadian ace Milos Raonic at Indian Wells, Tomic retired a set down, struggling with an aching wrist. The wrist had been giving him trouble ahead of Australia’s Davis Cup tie earlier in the year, and Tomic had been set to have scans on the wrist following the match against Raonic – of which he managed only 30 minutes.
Tomic spoke of his disappointment in interviews, and recently underwent scans to diagnose the issue with his wrist, although this has not been publicly revealed as yet, as has his participation at Roland Garros.
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