Has an injury ever BENEFITED a pro?

[Gabs011]

Usually injuries are terrible things for pro tennis players as it can mean they lose their fitness, their match practice and their confidence (and possibly some of their natural physical ability).

However recently I have come to realise that I think sometimes an injury can actually BENEFIT a pro tennis player. Two examples come to mind;

1) Andy Murray - last year during the clay season he injures his wrist (quite badly). Following this he takes time off to let the wrist heal and think about his priorities.

- He dumped Gilbert and create a "team" of experts around him.
- DRASTICALLY improved his fitness....which is clearly paying off for him
- Changed his game style to something quite unique. You can't really call him a power baseline player but you cannot call him an out an out counter puncher or retriever. He mixes it up completely like no one else in the top 20.

His current success speaks for itself.

2) Rafa Nadal - he kinda had two injuries over the past couple of years a) his foot injury in early 2006 when he missed the Aussie Open. b) his problem below his knees that he keeps taping up which flared up badly in the 2007 Wimbledon and US Open.

- He realised that his grinding style put alot of pressure on his body - and consequently changed his game in certain ways.
- Now has a more powerful/useful serve
- No longer plays just a 'grinding' style of tennis - is MUCH more aggressive at times.
- Changed his forehand grip (at times) to a semi-western from a full western meaning he can end points quicker by going for winners.

His current success speaks for itself.

Any other pros you can think of who got injured and then came back better than ever???

 

[Bogie]

wawrinka's results dramatically improved after his knee surgery. coincidence? pretty much, but still.......

 

[orangettecoleman]

santoro says the layoff from his injury in the mid 90s made him play much differently and more aggressively, and he also started playing doubles more, eventually winning some slam titles.

 

[35ft6]

Edberg said a back injury forced him to stop serving so big. That top spin serve was perfect for his serve and volley style.

It's tragic, but Blake's injury allowed him to spend time with his dad during his last days, and allowed him to return to tour with a new found courage/perspective.

 

[FEDEXP]

In the examples given it is not the actual injury that benefited a player, rather, what they did with the time out.

 

[35ft6]

In the examples given it is not the actual injury that benefited a player, rather, what they did with the time out.

What are you talking about? In the context of the question, how could it be any other way? Injuries by definition are in and of itself never helpful, this question is about injuries that ended up being a catalyst for positive change.

 

[montx]

Taylor Dents injury took him off the circuits for such a long time. I don't think they benefited him.

But his comeback may be an inspiration to the rest of us.

 

[montx]

I don't believe everyones injury has benefits unless you look so hard to find one.

Sometimes they bring about positive change and sometimes despair for the person involved.

I have a cousin with muscular dystrophy. He didn't benefit from his infirmity. But he has been shining giving money to charity by building an internet sight selling stuff and being a good example to the rest of us. The sad thing about all of this also is that he is living with his aged parents who are looking after him.

It breaks my heart for him and his family.

I don't think any good has come from it apart from the fact he is shining as a light for all to see.

 

[cujays]

james blake

 

[LttlElvis]

John McEnroe had some back problems, then started with his unorthodox service stance as a way to stretch his back.

 

[consistency wins]

I don't know that one can say that an injury HELPED anyone. But, as with the given examples above (and I'm sure many others as well) there have been several instances where the injury caused a time away from the courts in which many players came back stronger and with more focus.

I remember James Blake coming back after spending time with his father and actually enjoying playing tennis and not taking the game for granted. I remember him still smiling in his US Open loss to Agassi a few years back.

I think James needs another injury again to appreciate what he has before him and get that darn scowl off of his face....

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

I can think of a self-inflicted injury that occurred with a certain women’s player, which BENEFITED her compatriot.

 

[WHSTENNIS]

From my eyes the only way a player would gain something from an injury is time off.

 

[soyizgood]

I can think of a certain stabbing that enabled her rival to win a ton of slams......

 

[flyer]

I bet if players started getting tommy john's surgury they would start hitting bigger and serving harder...

 

[johnny ballgame]

Not an injury, but Canas had the best year of his career right after serving his doping suspension.

 

[consistency wins]

Not an injury, but Canas had the best year of his career right after serving his doping suspension.

Quite unlike Coria....

 

[35ft6]

From my eyes the only way a player would gain something from an injury is time off.

Aside from the examples already given, where a player had to choose a new approach to the game because of an injury and stumbles upon an approach that is BETTER, yes, having time off is good since the ATP season is almost year round. Pros really don't have time to really really develop new shots. So time off is good. And sometimes, when the injury prevents them from swinging their rackets, they take their cardio to a new level.

 

[LuckyR]

Pete Sampras feels he met his wife because he was sidelined with an injury and caught a cheesy movie she was featured in...

 

[35ft6]

^ Oh, good one. Yeah, I saw a show recently where they talked about that.

Also, Seles was dominating until she got stabbed. After that, Graf won several more Slams.

 

[hollywood9826]

I heard Becker essentially shattered his ankle in 16's to the point he had trouble walking, he wasnt expected to play at a high level. Thats why he started juicing and won Wimby a couple years later.

Essentially the same thing happened with Muster.

 

[bluetrain4]

As many have posted, a player's injury itself never really benefits the player. But, the time to reflect, recharge, regroup that an injury may bring is often advantageous.

 

[35ft6]

As many have posted, a player's injury itself never really benefits the player.

Again, I would argue it does. Like Edberg's serve. He had chronic back pain and that forced him to stop going for flat bombs. As it turns out, his spinnier serve with less pace was better suited for his serve and volley style.

 

[Mr. Federerpov]

Jhie Zheng ,

She said after her ankle injury she focused more on fitness and power .

Her semis at wimbledon should prove that her injury actually helped her

 

[Tecnifibre_Rackets]

I heard tht Sampras had something in his wrist removed due to injury, and tht this allowed him to get more action on his shots which helped his tennis.