Keeping it a Secret

Everyone knows about the numerous injuries that come along with playing tennis but for professionals, this is an even bigger deal. Tennis players have to deal with injuries while also keeping the details of the injury a secret. Players that have injuries that put them out of playing for a while often tell the press what their injuries are but for players that can still play, their injuries are their secrets. This is due to how tennis is played. If a player knows their opponents injury then they are able to expose it while playing. Opponents can target injuries as they hit the ball in locations where the injured player has difficulty reaching it. If the player can't reach it then the opponent can easily win the match and the injured player can worsen their injury because of the repetitive motions. Professionals must look and act like they are not injured and tell the press that whatever is going on is confidential. The Williams sisters are constantly asked information about their injuries on TV and every time they say that they can not talk about it. Often players tape themselves to help their injuries and this gives opponents a little insight into the injuries but they still must play as if the other player is 100%. Opponents don't know anything until the match is being played and they see how the other player is handling the match. This is another reason why tennis is such a demanding sport. It requires strength and perseverance of every player.