This year seems to be the year when more players than ever have suffered with knee injuries. Is it a result of poor conditioning or are players expecting too much of their bodies? With the improvement in technology, players are doing more with their shots and feel confident in being more aggressive in their style of play. Rafael Nadal and John Isner are two players that have had long-standing issues with their knee(s).

In fact, many believed for a long time that Nadal would be forced to curtail his career because of the pounding he places on his knees and the recurrent issues that he’s had with them. To this day, he still has issues with his knees; however, it has not stopped him. While he has been forced to take periodic breaks throughout his career to rest and rehabilitate his knees, he is still going strong. This year he won two majors (French Open and US Open) and he will end the year as the number one ranked male for the first time since 2013, his fourth time as the year-end number one (2008,2010,2013 and 2017). Unfortunately, Nadal withdrew from the Rolex Paris Masters before playing his quarterfinal match, leaving many wondering just how serious is this injury. After losing in the first match of the Nitto ATP Finals, Nadal withdrew due to persistent issues with his right knee.

While Isner has had persistent left knee issues, this year he has struggled with his right knee as well. Now his already limited mobility has been further compromised.

Another victim of knee injury is Pablo Carreno Busta and he has seen his season derailed because of the issues with his left knee.

Fabio Fognini and Gael Monfils have recently had issues with their knees. Both players withdrew from the Rolex Paris Masters because of knee issues.

Fernando Verdasco was recently wearing a supporting bandage on his left knee; however, it did not seem to be hampering him too much but he will be happy to rest and rehabilitate his knee before the 2018 season.

David Goffin continues to play with a taping on his left knee and seems to have found a way to play some of his best tennis of his career. He made it to the final of the Nitto ATP Finals; however, despite giving everything he had, he came up short against Grigor Dimitrov. His season still was not over as he had to play in the final of the Davis Cup.

SOURCE OF IMAGES:  serveandrally