5 reasons why Rafael Nadal is the hot favourite to win the French Open 2017

Fitness

Transforming in various parts of his career from lean to buff and everything in between, Rafael Nadal was always a fit athlete. But he was also perhaps one of the most prone to picking up injuries, some of them very chronic – in his knee and foot.

Rafael Nadal has taken the equivalent of over two years off due to various injuries, some related to stress by gameplay, some not. His left foot injury is due to a birth defect, and bothered him repeatedly despite treatment, and through Grand Slam wins.

Struggles with his knee also became chronic, and those struggles and increasing losses took a toll on the ace, who perhaps at this point was in constant pain. Following his break, however, Rafa, who is said to have increased his already extensive work with a physiotherapy team, has come back and how.

With no hint of injury this year for Rafa, that break appears to have done him a world of good. The Spanish ace has been running across the court with gusto, into the net and out, and being both aggressive and defensive baseliner with aplomb. He’s made some gutsy shots consistently through the last few months, rushing the net and away, without appearing to break a sweat and with no drop in energy.

In fact, many are saying Nadal is fitter than he has ever been, even in his heyday a decade ago – and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong.