thrawn said:
If I recall correctly, he didn't even have a day's rest. Due to the tournament running behind schedule (rain), he played the match against Verdasco on the Saturday night, then beat Federer in 5 the following night.
If I recall correctly, he had about 40 hours between the semi, and the final. Still an amazing "recovery" (Friday night to Sunday afternoon).
Nadal keeps going through the same patterns :
UP
- 2008 - a banner year for Nadal, winning RG and Wimbledon back to back
DOWN
- 2009 - after winning in Australia (showing an amazing physical performance in winning 2 back to back five setters, showing more energy in the 5th set, of the second five setter than he had in the first set of the first 5 setter) Nadal went downhill, having an off year, This was the year that the WADA code was adopted, and the French did supplementary drug testing at RG. His fans surmised he was "injured", even though he showed no outward signs of injury.
UP
2010 - another up year for Nadal, winning three of 4 slams, including the most difficult one to win for a defensive player (USO). Magically showing a mid-career 10 mph serve speed increase, after undergoing his "PRP" knee treatments.
DOWN
2011/2012 - 2 down years that Nadal only wins one GS each year (his favorite at RG). This includes a 7 month injury break for problem knees. This knee problem was identified as something different than his usual "tendonitis". Of course he had previously said that the "tendonitis" was cured by Dr. Sanchez's "PRP" treatments, so he couldn't use that injury excuse this time. In the "injury" absence, he missed the 2012 London Olympics. He was the defending gold medal champion, and the flag bearer for his country. Of course the fact that the IOC, not the ITF was doing drug testing (and introducing a new test for HGH) had nothing to do with his last minute withdrawal from the Olympics.
UP
2013 - Nadal comes back from a long injury break and DOMINATES the men's tour. Winning most tournaments he enters (including 2 of the three remaining GS's), and making the finals of almost every tournament he enters. He won every summer hardcourt tournament (Canada, Cincinatti, and the USO), EASILY. He won the USO (his toughest) with the loss of only one set. What is especially amazing, is that he is now 27 years old, and playing the best tennis of his career, even though defensive minded players traditionally were washed up before their 26th birthday (Borg, Chang, Wilander, Hewitt, Courier).
?
2014 - Mixed results so far, but he did unexpectedly lose to Wawrinka, in Australia, with a reported "bad back". He complained that the back is still bothering him at RG, but he has only lost one set through his first 6 matches at RG, CRUSHING Andy Murray in the semifinal.
So, he goes WAY up and down repeatedly. We keep hearing how he is "slowing down" because of age, yet keeps coming back as spry as a 22 year old after every "slowdown".
As well, Nadal has his "in-year" ups and downs. He typically plays much better in the late spring, and through the summer (when 3 of the 4 GSs are played), than he plays in the fall, and winter (where only one GS is played). Amazing how he can "plan" his peaks and valleys (much like Armstrong always "planned" to peak at the TDF). No "cycling" here.
Amazingly, his fans are not the least bit suspicious, and are getting bolder, and bolder with their trash talk, insulting the other players.
Nadal is an even more brazen doper, than Lance Armstrong was, in my opinion, yet tennis looks the other way. Like Armstrong, someone outside of his sport will have to take him down.