!["I had a problem before London in my shoulder and had to stop for about ten days before the World Tour finals. It felt better but again it resurfaced." Nadal said.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/11/9b/nadal_10.jpg ""I had a problem before London in my shoulder and had to stop for about ten days before the World Tour finals. It felt better but again it resurfaced." Nadal said.")
The new tennis season should be a chance for players to start fresh and in good shape. So far it is just the opposite as the injuries are adding up right before the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
See slide show for the injured players.
Topping the list is world number three Roger Federer who is quesionable after pulling out of the Qatar Open with a back injury following a quarter-final win over Andreas Seppi, but said he was optimistic of proving his fitness in time for Melbourne Park.
Topping the hurt women is Serena Williams and Belgian Kim Clijsters who had a MRI scan on the outside of the hip, a report on the Australian Open website said on Saturday.
Maria Sharapova backed out the Brisbane tournament with an injured ankle but has arrived in Melbourne to begin training for the Australian Open starting January 16,2012.
Even world number two Rafael Nadal starts the New Year with a sore shoulder.
"So hopefully the shoulder will work well here. It is still not 100 per cent fully fit," Nadal said.
The Australian Open starts next Monday which might be just in time before more injuries take even a bigger toll on the players.
Comments