“For a player who is forehand-dominated, the same set of muscles get stressed over and over again. Also, the fact that she started playing well before adolescence should be kept in mind, since the muscles don’t fully develop by then,” says Roy, adding that “mental strength” is what keeps her going despite these injuries.

Says coach Piperno: “It’s her first full year on tour and picking up injuries regularly and one’s body becoming increasingly susceptible is common. The fact that she prefers hard courts also contributes to her injuries. Hard courts are tough on the body for it takes a lot out of the player. Personally, I feel Sania’s body is not taking the strain. Maybe, she has a less athletic body. It’s all down to training. She’s worth more than what she’s achieved, but with her injuries, she’s not done enough.”

Roy, who has given Sania a diet chart to follow, feels that a balanced diet is crucial to endure rigorous training sessions at the highest level. “It is unfortunate that youngsters in India don’t realise the importance of a balanced diet comprising energy-yielding and body-building food. Foreign players are very disciplined in their food habits. Also, Indians give themselves very little time to recover. They don’t take a break unless it becomes impossible for them to continue playing anymore,” says Roy, a former Davis Cup trainer.

Sania’s former coach Farrington says rigours of the world tour are “such that injuries are bound to occur”. “Believe me, even the top players do not portray a good picture. I don’t agree that she (Sania) is overworking, but I surely know that she needs long rest as the day in and day out process of playing wears the body. She’s physically mature to take the pressure. But eventually one must agree that the body is so complex that problems could recur repeatedly.”

... contd.