Masters Series Paris

    So Nadal is out with a right knee injury, Federer is sidelined with a back injury, Andy Murray was ousted by Nalbandian and Roddick lost a heart breaker to Jo Wilfried Tsonga; what a tough day for the top players in Paris.  The real story of interest is the injuries of Nadal and Federer.  I don't want to harp on the overbearing pro tennis schedule in every Tennis Talk blog post, but seriously, these guys should be sitting on their couches right now watching television on Sunday afternoons as part of their offseason relaxation. 

   I was thinking about it this afternoon, I actually feel bad for the players on the WTA and ATP Tours during this late stage of the season; how mentally/physically drained must they be right now?  It's similar to working our "normal day jobs" without EVER having a vacation.  Without knowing that we have that vacation coming every few weeks/months, it is hard to stay positive/sane at work sometimes...imagine how the pros feel...Federer and Nadal are banged up [go back to the Wimbledon final, they have been in first gear ever since], and they have a matter of days before the Shanghai Masters Cup; and after that a matter of weeks before the Australian Open...and then the whole battle starts again....forever.  When our two top players, who are the most physically fit players on tour, both go down with freak injuries this late in the season, it makes you think twice.  On the bright side, Juan Martin Del Potro is still dreaming about competing in the Masters Cup, and he is playing the best tennis of his life at this late stage of 2008, then again he is just over his teenage years.  As for the WTA final event, watch for Venus Williams to make a big impact in the draw, and possibly go all the way.  She squeaked into the top 8, and will swing from the hip on the fast indoor surface.