Rafael Nadal could make his physical issues even worse if he returns to the sport while he is still hurt, according to Jimmy Connors.
The Spanish legend has been trying desperately to get himself fit for the clay court season. Sadly, he had to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters, which is an event he has won a remarkable 11 times.
Nadal is continuing to train on clay despite that withdrawal. That demonstrates how he is not giving up on returning for other clay court tournaments. Being fit to try and win a 15th French Open title is undoubtedly his biggest priority.
Fans noticed one other thing about the recent footage of the 37-year-old practicing. Nadal was wearing a pair of newly minted shoes. The stylish footwear had some distinctive features that grabbed the attention of his supporters.
In a recent episode of The Advantage Connors Podcast, the seven-time Grand Slam champion Connors discussed how little fun it is to play with an injury concern and that Nadal could exacerbate the issue further if he returns to the sport too quickly.
"Playing hurt is no fun, especially as you get older. If you're not careful, you can even do more damage. Rafa's been around long enough, he knows himself better than anybody and nobody should make that decision but him."
Connors then gave an insight into just how difficult it is for players to compete while hurt. He says it takes away absolutely everything in a tennis player's game.
"There's nothing worse than playing hurt because that takes away everything. It takes away your movement, it takes away the way you hit your shots and it takes away your attitude toward the way you wanna play. You're always hedging, you’re not fully confident in your health and your movement."
Connors had one of the longest careers in tennis history. His insight into injuries and how tough they can be should certainly be among the most valued in the sport.
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