Will Raphael Nadal's Playing Style Force Him into a Short Career on the ATP Tour?

When people think about Raphael Nadal, they think of energy, excitement, strength and speed. Unfortunately last night at the U.S. Open it was Nadal's weaknesses that were apparent as he winced through pain, attempting to will himself to victory against David Ferrer. In the end even Nadal's intense drive couldn't convince his ailing knees to cooperate as he lost the match 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

At 21 years old, many experts see Raphael Nadal as the player of the future and the heir apparent to the king of tennis Roger Federer. While no one can deny the brilliance of Nadal's game in the last couple of years, one might wonder if his body will hold up long enough to fulfill his potential.

Nadal signature shot is his looping, heavy top-spin forehand, but he also separates himself from other players with his speed on the court. He has had the ability to run down balls that appear to be easy winners, but his reckless abandon on the court has come at a price. His body is starting to rebel against the pounding that he has subjected it to. Couple the pounding of Nadal's style of play with his heavier build, and you have a recipe for perpetual injury.

Nadal's knee problems first appeared in the classic five set final against Roger Federer at this year's Wimbledon Championships. After Wimbledon, Nadal took only one week of rest before jumping back into the clay season in Germany and playing in two hard court tune up tournaments to prepare for this year's U.S. Open. During the course of this time Nadal's problems worsened as he went from having tendonitis in his right knee, to having tendonitis in both knees.

The hard-court season couldn't have come at a worse time for Nadal. The surface is much less forgiving than clay or grass, and has probably compounded the tendonitis that Raphael has been enduring.

I think Nadal has to take a serious look at his longevity and consider some much needed time off to heal up. He may also benefit from playing a limited competition schedule in the future. Currently he has more wins this year than any other player, but he also has played more matches than his counterpart Federer. Scaling down the number of competitions will allow him to save his legs for the Grand Slam tournaments where he can continue build his legacy.

Nadal may also need to change his practice habits. He is known for his rigorous practice schedule that regularly includes four hour sessions on the court. Even if Nadal spends much of this time on clay, it will still take a tremendous toll on his body.

Like most tennis fans, I thoroughly enjoy watching Raphael Nadal play when he is at his best. I hope for the sake of tennis fans everywhere that he will consider some changes to his competition and practice schedule that will allow him to play at a high level for years to come.