INJURIES TAKING TOLL ON PLAYERS

Should the tennis fraternity be worried by the spate of injuries that has drastically depleted the US Open? Five of the top 11 players in the men’s rankings will miss action due to injuries. Here’s a look at the issue and some solutions offered:

THE SICK BAY

Britain's world No 2 Andy Murray is the latest to withdraw from the US Open due to a sore hip. He joined Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic among the injured.

REASONS FOR INJURIES

The main reason cited by experts is the lengthy and packed calendar which does not offer a lot of rest period in between.

Improved Racquet technology means players can hit harder and therefore have to move faster and turn quicker, to make returns, thus causing more wear and tear on the body.

Most of the tournaments are played on hard courts which affects the body more than clay and grass courts.

SUGGESTIONS OFFERED

The obvious solution is to cut down the season but both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are against any drastic changes. "You can cut down the season by half and then if there is an injury we cut it down again, and at the end we play two months of the year eventually and we'll still be injured because now we're not playing enough," Federer said.

Nadal is against reducing matches to best of three sets and cutting down on time taken between two points and two games.