SET TO SERVE TENNIS KEY DATES Bennett inspiring Burgess to coach
ENFORCED BREAK WILL HELP PROLONG CAREER
FEELING THE STRAIN: Rafa is eager to avoid injuries after spell out
RAFA NADAL feels that a two-and-a-half month break from tennis has set him up for another two years at the top – despite the Spaniard turning 34 two days ago. The 19-time Grand Slam champion was unable to pick up a racket for two months as he was forced into lockdown in his apartment in Majorca.
“My mind was not able to think about tennis,” he said. “I was thinking about the health of the people and the worldwide pandemic we’re suffering.
“I have not got a court at my home – I live in an apartment, so I have only been able to play for the last two weeks.
“I am taking things step by step and the main thing is to avoid injuries.
“I think the longer stops are tougher on the body for the older boys than the younger ones.
“But I hope to go back on tour and play for another couple of years hopefully, and keep doing what I like the most – playing tennis in front of the crowds that I hope can come back.”
Nadal having a hit at home and in kitchen
JUN 23-28: Schroders Battle of the Brits, National Tennis Centre, Roehampton. JULY 3-26: [July 3-5, Tier 1; 10-12, Premier; 17-19, Tier 1; 24-26 Premier]: British Tour, National Tennis Centre, Roehampton. JULY 14-18: Progress Tour Women’s Championships, National Tennis Centre, Roehampton. ATP Tour scheduled to return CITI Open, Washington DC. AUG 31-SEPT 13: First Grand Slam to return US Open, Flushing Meadows, New York. Rearranged French Open, Roland
AUG 2-9:
SEP 20-OCT 4:
Garros, Paris. NOV 15-22: Nitto ATP Finals, London. NOV 23-29: Davis Cup Finals, Madrid. JAN 18-31: Australian Open, Melbourne (TBC).
SAM BURGESS would consider a career as a head coach after being inspired by ex-England bossWayne Bennett.
The pair worked together at club and international level before Burgess was forced to retire from the sport due to serious shoulder issues at the end of last year.
Burgess, 31, has since moved on to Bennett’s backroom staff at South Sydney, working as a defensive coach and with the team’s leadership group, alongside roles with the Rabbitohs’ recruitment board and a TV pundit.
Now Burgess is not ruling out a permanent move into coaching at some future stage.
He told the ‘House of Rugby’ podcast: “Wayne is without doubt the most amazing man I’ve ever met in my life – he just
BURGESS: Passion blows me out of the park on a daily basis.
“He’s so phenomenal – the coach we see, but also the man that he is.
“As a player I always thought I could be a reasonable coach. I knew how to motivate and influence people.
“Wayne has helped me do that a bit better.
“Now I’ve stepped away from the game I wonder if I want to get involved in that volatile environment just yet. Maybe I don’t, but maybe my passion will mean I want to get back there in 12 or 18 months’ time.
“Naturally, I think yes because I’ve been coaching at South doing the defence and I love it.”
Burgess also revealed surgeons have told him he will need a shoulder replacement, but that he has rejected it so far because of his age. DX1ST Daily Express Friday, June 5, 2020