- Dec 30, 2010
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Nadal has made the final in 10 of the 11 tournaments that he has played in since he came from his "debilitating" knee injury last year.
Previously to tennis's "steroids era", defensive minded players played their best tennis before the age of 25. Usually by the age of 25, they were for all intense and purposes, washed up (Chang, Courier, Borg, Wilander). Nadal, on the other hand is playing the best tennis of his life, at 27 or 28 years of age.
To those who "explain away" Nadal's serve speed increase by "technique changes", remember, Nadal uses his non-dominant hand to serve (he is right handed, but uses his left hand to serve). Try throwing a ball with your non-dominant hand, and see how that comes out.
No other player has dramatically increased their serve speed, after becoming a pro that I know about. He typically served below 110 mph for his first few years, now it magically approaches 120 mph at the two grand slams that a fast serve helps the most (Wimbledon, US Open).
He has managed in the past to increase his serve speed throughout the tournament (in Wimbledon 2011, his serve speed in the 6th round was faster than in any of the first 5 rounds, and his serve speed in the seventh round was faster than it was in any of the first six rounds).
I strongly suspect that he is using "testosterone patches" in-competition on off-days at the grand slams (they only test positive for about 12 hours after use). Tennis only tests after the completion of the matches. Plenty of time for the player to dope, and not test positive. As well, I believe that he is using IGF1 well before competition. The two drugs would add a significant boost to a serve's speed.
Previously to tennis's "steroids era", defensive minded players played their best tennis before the age of 25. Usually by the age of 25, they were for all intense and purposes, washed up (Chang, Courier, Borg, Wilander). Nadal, on the other hand is playing the best tennis of his life, at 27 or 28 years of age.
To those who "explain away" Nadal's serve speed increase by "technique changes", remember, Nadal uses his non-dominant hand to serve (he is right handed, but uses his left hand to serve). Try throwing a ball with your non-dominant hand, and see how that comes out.
No other player has dramatically increased their serve speed, after becoming a pro that I know about. He typically served below 110 mph for his first few years, now it magically approaches 120 mph at the two grand slams that a fast serve helps the most (Wimbledon, US Open).
He has managed in the past to increase his serve speed throughout the tournament (in Wimbledon 2011, his serve speed in the 6th round was faster than in any of the first 5 rounds, and his serve speed in the seventh round was faster than it was in any of the first six rounds).
I strongly suspect that he is using "testosterone patches" in-competition on off-days at the grand slams (they only test positive for about 12 hours after use). Tennis only tests after the completion of the matches. Plenty of time for the player to dope, and not test positive. As well, I believe that he is using IGF1 well before competition. The two drugs would add a significant boost to a serve's speed.