Rafael Nadal: injuries and causality

N

Nuclear

Guest
Statement

(a)Rafa's playstyle (which, coupled with other factors such as mental strength and physical preparation, increases his probability of winning Slams)
causes (b) Extreme strain on body
which increases chances of (c) Injury
which causes (d) Absence im Slams.

(a) => (b) => (c) => (d)

Contrapositive

not (d) => not (c) => not (b) => not (a)

To be present in more Slams, Nadal would have to be uninjured. For this to be more likely, he'd have to put less strain on bis body which implies he'd have to change his playstyle which may reduce his success in Slams.

You could imagine a Nadal with as much Slam participation rate as, say, Federer. But this Nadal would have to play a significantly less physically taxing (thus fundamentally different) tennis.
Perhaps this is achievable, considering his natural ballstriking and volleying skills coupled with his acute strategic awareness and outstanding mental strength.
Would he be as dominant on clay?
Maybe not as much but he would be up there at the top. In fact, Federer himself (whose playstyle makes him much less injury prone) would've won countless RG titles if it wasn't for Nadal.
Would he have more HC and Grass Slams? Very likely.

So why does this Nadal not exist? Why did we get a constantly injured Nadal instead? Nadal's team must have thought of overhauling his game right?

Unfortunately, he has shown inability to become an elite server(lack of accuracy, confidence, or sustained focus, I am unsure).
Additionally he doesn't seem to have the reaction speed necessary to be an elite aggressive returner.

Finally, bad luck. However, he has never radically changed his diet, reduced his weight and muscle mass or done extensive work on flexibility(great for joints) and balance(crucial for aggressive return of serve).
He has clearly not left every stone unturned so is bad luck that important a factor? After all, he hit the genetic lottery and was coined a once in a lifetime phenom.

I could elaborate on how that relates to his simple and straight to the point, somewhat conservative and sometimes stubborn nature. And how this nature comes with pros and cons. Same goes for his peers.

It's just hard to imagine a fundamentally different Nadal. Maybe the Rafa we got is one of the most successfull versions out of all "alternate universes" containing Federer and Djokovic? Who knows.

Causality is a fundamental concept that makes you realize just how much constraint there is in the world and how difficult it is to think of a viable alternate sequence of events.
 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
He’d have far less injuries if it weren’t for his congenital foot condition. The messed up bone in his foot requires special orthotics to correct the problem, but it puts added stress on his knees which has been his most reoccurring injury. The feet are the foundation of a person’s body. Picture a house with an uneven foundation, areas of the house further up are more likely to be damaged. The same applies to the human body. If there’s something wrong with the feet you’re more susceptible to hurting your ankle, knee, hip etc.

He’d still have injuries because of his high octane style of play, but they’d be fewer and less severe without the foot condition. His diet and stretching routine is fine. All the top guys go through ridiculous regimes in order to play for as long as they have.
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Statement

1. If I concur with your logico-methodological analysis, you are right.
2. I concur with your logico-methodolocial analysis.
3. Therefore, you are right.

If X, then Y. X is true. Therefore, Y must be true..

Conclusion

By applying a simple Modus Ponens, I have logically demonstrated that your thesis is right.
 
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Amritia

Hall of Fame
Interesting thread actually- I think there's soldi logic at the heart of it.

The only other factor that goes against your conclusion is what blond blur just mentioned- his foot injury
 

Ledigs

Legend
As someone who had a fracture of my foot a few years ago, it still hurts and I still don’t like running too much on it. Foot injuries are the worst.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
We may never know, but it's all part of the deal.

Given all he has achieved - while seeming to also enjoy some life balance along the way - I think he has maximized his career.

I mean, Rafa has broken longevity of accomplishment records, as well. (I won't recite, but in terms of years winning at least one title, consecutive years winning slams or weeks being in the Top 10, etc. Stuff like that.)
 
N

Nuclear

Guest
Statement

1. If I concur with your logico-methodological analysis, you are right.
2. I concur with your logico-methodolocial analysis.
3. Therefore, you are right.

If X, then Y. X is true. Therefore, Y must be true..

Conclusion

By applying a simple Modus Ponens, I have logically demonstrated that your thesis is right.
wow, that's a pretty cool superpower
 
N

Nuclear

Guest
We may never know, but it's all part of the deal.

Given all he has achieved - while seeming to also enjoy some life balance along the way - I think he has maximized his career.

I mean, Rafa has broken longevity of accomplishment records, as well. (I won't recite, but in terms of years winning at least one title, consecutive years winning slams or weeks being in the Top 10, etc. Stuff like that.)
Indeed, he did it all while eating his beloved seafood. That's better than eating lettuce and tofu everyday like amor y paz.
 
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