Relentless schedule taking toll on ‘big-name’ players

Most injuries from overuse

TORONTO, Aug 28, (RTRS): Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka have reputations for being supreme athletes but a gruelling tennis season that offers little time to recover has left them among a number of big-name players who will be missing from the US Open with injuries.

Despite medical advances and a greater understanding by the players on how their bodies work, there is little down time for anyone who wants to be a regular competitor during the ATP and WTA seasons, which last approximately 11 and 10 months, respectively.

“Most of the injuries in tennis are what are classified as overuse,” Todd Ellenbecker, the ATP’s Vice President of Medical Services, said in an email interview.

“Not one particular force or trauma but a continued, repeated overload of smaller forces that lead to a breakdown in the player’s body.”

Five top 11 men’s players are among those who have said they will miss the year’s final grand slam, which starts on Monday in New York: former world number one Djokovic (elbow), Andy Murray (hip), 2016 champion Wawrinka (knee), Canada’s Milos Raonic (wrist) and Japan’s Kei Nishikori (wrist).

The women’s draw has not been robbed of the same level of star power with the most high-profile withdrawal due to injury being 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur (hand). This file photo taken on March 31, 2017 shows Japanese tennis player Kimiko Date taking part in a training session in Tokyo. (AFP)