Today was the first day of the 2008 US Open main draw. So far, knock on wood, no real injuries. The temperature has cooled a bit, which makes the heat less of a potential issue during long, 5 set matches. What many amateur players don’t realize is the importance of maintaining ones’ hydration during play. Players and their coaches put together dozens of sports/electrolyte drinks to be used during a match. I see tons of weekend warriors who have a small bottle of water at the end of an hour of hitting and think that is sufficient.
Another thing that should be stressed to amateur players in the importance of pregame stretching and warming up. Spectators attending the matches see the players hit for a few minutes before the match starts, but what most don’t realize is that these players have practiced on another court for at least 30 minutes to get warm, and they stretch for another 10 to 15 minutes before playing. As an orthopedic surgeon, a large portion of the injuries I treat can readily be traced back to improper warming up before playing.
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