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Nadal must keep waiting for his comeback: just as his knee appeared to be improving, a stomach virus has stopped the Spaniard.
As so often in life, mistakes of the past continue to cause problems. Rafael Nadal experienced this too, although he should have been fit again long ago. Once his knee had healed, he caught a stomach bug and had to postpone his comeback again.
Whatever happened to his knee, I believe that the constant physical strain of professional sport is not always tolerated by the body. For many tennis players, the logical consequence is that the body goes on strike.
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We have seen this repeatedly among our female tennis players. They play singles and doubles at the same time, and some who want to do everything even play mixed doubles. Injuries are the result.
However, intense physical strain also plays an important role in a tennis player's life, and this strain can also lead to physical breakdowns.
For some tennis players, it may be better to play fewer tournaments rather than more, although there are arguments against that too. Each player should decide sensibly, guided by reason rather than ambition or the coach.
For 2013, I wish all players a year free of injuries.