1961 is not 1964. Hoad's march 1961 injury was a different injury; he pulled a tendon in his foot. He was out of action for a few months. He came back in july 1961 as a full-time tournament player; in fact he played more tournaments than Gonzales and rosewall in 1961. It was the same in 1962 as he played more tournaments than Rosewall. In 1964 he played as much overall tennis as Rosewall and more than Gonzales and Gimeno. In '64 He entered all the main tornament not withdrawing from any of them. Once he started an event he did not give any walkovers or retirements. To play as much top flight international tennis as hoad did from july 1961 to the end of 1964 and be competitive (hoad was still winning matches) means that he was basically fit to play and uninjured.
Hoad still produced a fair ammount of good performances in this period. In the second half of '61 he beat Gonzales 2 times out of three including a big win at the wembley semi-final. In '62 he beat Bucholz in a long 5 setter in the semi-final at Wembley and then extended Rosewall to 4 long sets in the final. In '63 he beat Laver 8-0 in january (He seems to have gone into extra training for this to be extra fit; maybe at other times hoad was bit casual about his fitness.) Overall though Hoad struggled to win tournaments. he did not win any in '61. '63 and '64. He won a couple in '62 when the competition was less; only Rosewall of the great players was there; Gonzales and laver did not play the pro tour in '62. In '64 with Gonzales and Laver there as well as Rosewall , Hoad really struggled with no wins from 24 attempts in tournaments.
jeffrey
Whoa, whoa. Slow down.
Hoad had a CHRONIC (as in continuous) back injury from 1954 on, and an extended series of matches could always leave him unable to play.
Take a look at his pro numbers.
In 1958, he took about four or five months off recovering from back problems, and still played 110 singles matches on the American and Ampol world championships, plus several more in Europe and minor events.
In 1959, he played 109 singles matches on the two championship tours, plus many more in Europe and in minor events.
Probably about 150 singles matches in 1959, and a few less in 1958.
Probably about 60 or 70 pro singles matches in 1957 in several tours and tournaments.
Well over 300 singles matches from July 1957 to January 1, 1960.
Money winnings, about $200,000 in 1958 alone, well over $100,000 in 1959, about $400,000 in his first 2 1/2 years as a pro (dollars then worth about 20 of today's dollars), plus much more in commercial endorsements and activities. In today's money, about ten million in 2 1/2 years.
During this time, many more matches and more earnings than Laver achieved in his glory days in the 1960's, Laver played about 122 matches (perhaps including doubles?) in 1969, perhaps his busiest year.
Hoad went semi-retired in 1960, and look at how many matches he played after this.
For 1960, leave out Jan. 1, the last singles match of the 1959 season.
In 1960, including the New Zealand tour, a total of 36 singles matches. This was like a vacation after the previous three years.
Similar or fewer numbers for each subsequent year.
Plus a gain in weight, reduced mobility, recurring foot problems caused by the greater body weight which put stress on the right foot and toes.
Get the picture?
There was no "pro tour" in 1962, and Hoad tired at the end of the Wembley final with Rosewall.
