Over two months have passed since Greg last hit a ball with serious intent a tennis match, in an ATL finals match at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open in late January, and over four months since he played in an ATP or ITF match, and it is still not certain when he will return to competitive tennis, with his ailing back still not responding to the extensive rehabilitation and physio he is undertaking..
The two matched Greg played in the ATL finals showed how unprepared he was then, and how his mobility had been impaired from the forced layoff he had. He only played in the ATL finals as his team were struggling with injuries and player's unavailable due to the Open. He was patently underprepared and was unable to move effectively in his match against Matt Barton, reflected in the woeful 0-4, 0-4 loss. Greg did loosen up and move better the following day in his match against the Pacific Oceania's Cyril Jacobe, where he struggled to a 4-0, 4-3 win, but he was still well below par.
Greg has since been doing rehab and strengthening work on his back, intermingled with fitness and light hitting sessions, and his back has improved tremendously to the extent that he does not have any pain or restriction on movement in a normal day to day sense, or even when hitting lightly in a short sessions. However when he loads up his back and puts his body under stress for more than a set of tennis he still gets pain and is then restricted on serve, and has stiffness in his back the next day. He has had advice from doctors and specialist physios and is working to further strengthen muscles around his troublesome spine, at the same time working with a trainer on a limited basis to maintain and improve his fitness, whilst not putting undue stress on his back. He recently had a 10 day break from all tennis and fitness training, after his back pain flared up again after some hitting sessions with Lleyton Hewitt prior to the Davis Cup tie. Greg said he was playing well but he could not sustain the level of intensity beyond a set.
Greg has organised a new program for his rehabilitation from a different physiotherapist, who has been working with other tennis players with back problems, and has recommenced his rehabilitation, with the focus on recovery and strengthening and taking it slowly with regards to hitting, slowly building his sessions and intensity. It is a matter of perseverance and patience, and he is approaching his rehabilitation sensibly and stoicly, but his patience is wearing thin.
Wish him luck...
The two matched Greg played in the ATL finals showed how unprepared he was then, and how his mobility had been impaired from the forced layoff he had. He only played in the ATL finals as his team were struggling with injuries and player's unavailable due to the Open. He was patently underprepared and was unable to move effectively in his match against Matt Barton, reflected in the woeful 0-4, 0-4 loss. Greg did loosen up and move better the following day in his match against the Pacific Oceania's Cyril Jacobe, where he struggled to a 4-0, 4-3 win, but he was still well below par.
Greg has since been doing rehab and strengthening work on his back, intermingled with fitness and light hitting sessions, and his back has improved tremendously to the extent that he does not have any pain or restriction on movement in a normal day to day sense, or even when hitting lightly in a short sessions. However when he loads up his back and puts his body under stress for more than a set of tennis he still gets pain and is then restricted on serve, and has stiffness in his back the next day. He has had advice from doctors and specialist physios and is working to further strengthen muscles around his troublesome spine, at the same time working with a trainer on a limited basis to maintain and improve his fitness, whilst not putting undue stress on his back. He recently had a 10 day break from all tennis and fitness training, after his back pain flared up again after some hitting sessions with Lleyton Hewitt prior to the Davis Cup tie. Greg said he was playing well but he could not sustain the level of intensity beyond a set.
Greg has organised a new program for his rehabilitation from a different physiotherapist, who has been working with other tennis players with back problems, and has recommenced his rehabilitation, with the focus on recovery and strengthening and taking it slowly with regards to hitting, slowly building his sessions and intensity. It is a matter of perseverance and patience, and he is approaching his rehabilitation sensibly and stoicly, but his patience is wearing thin.
Wish him luck...
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