March 2016: Tennis injury report card

Rafael Nadal

Nadal’s form has been declining, with a series of injuries following the former No. 1

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.