Injured knee still troubles Nadal

Rafael Nadal on Tuesday in a press conference ahead of the Shanghai Masters revealed that his knees still trouble him and he’s still in pain despite being in ultimate form. He also dismissed reports that high-tech machinery was behind his recent revival of fortunes on the court.

The Spaniard has had an amazing year, winning 10 titles including two Grand Slams after seven months out with a left knee injury, and now has also attained the world number one rank, displacing Novak Djokovic.

According to Sports24, a British daily, the use of hi-tech training machinery and platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) were key reasons for the Spaniard’s revival.

But the 27-year-old played down such suggestions and told reporters at the Shanghai Masters that while a combination of machines and PRP had “worked unbelievable” on his knee in the past, there was no magic cure this time around.

“With the injury I have now, I did (try PRP),” he said. “I tried a lot of times, and it really didn’t help me a lot.

“The machines I have at home, the only thing that helps me is to make me a little bit more fit without having to run or something like this, or putting pressure on the tendon.

“But seriously, we didn’t find the key to the recovery because I need to keep working hard on finding things that will help me more.”

PRP, known as “blood-spinning”, involves taking an athlete’s blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to increase the platelet count. It is then re-injected in the affected area . The technique is a legal medical practice and is not prohibited or considered dopey by WADA.

The new world number 1 said that his team is working constantly to find solutions to manage his knee, which he still feels is not 100% perfect. He believes that he now knows the way to tolerate the pain easily.

“But the feeling on the knee is very good for me because even if I have pain a lot of days, the pain is not limiting my movements,” he said.

“That’s the most important thing. I am playing with no limitations. I am free when I am playing.

“Even if I have pain, I am able to control that pain. In the past I was not able to control the pain, so I couldn’t play. But the feeling is I would like to improve a little bit more.”

He also rubbished suggestions that he has been receiving about his early career wrap-up because of his playing intense physical playing style; he wants to prove doubters wrong by playing in Rio Olympics in 2016.

“For the last five years, it seems like lot of people were saying I will not be able to play long the way that I play,” said Nadal, Olympic singles champion in 2008.

“But I am here again at 27-and-a-half years old and I really hope to have the chance to be here for a lot of more years.

“So still in my mind Olympics in Brazil. I really want to arrive there in good condition. It’s a real goal for me.”

The Mallorcan missed last year’s Olympics, when he was defending champion, with his knee injury.
He also has in his sights the ongoing Shanghai Masters where he can become the first man to win six Masters titles in one year.