30th April, 2000

It's tough but I've just got to shoulder on

AFTER going injury free for quite a while now, I've run into shoulder problems again. Unfortunately, the shoulder feels like it's gone back to the same problem I had just before the Australian Open in January. I felt some pain during the doubles match in Bermuda with Paul Kilderry last week and I haven't been able to shake the problem so far. The next few days are  going to very important ahead of the claycourt season, leading into the French Open in Paris.  The shoulder was starting to feel strong and good again after I rested it following the Davis Cup match in Adelaide. I'm not sure what has caused this latest problem. I felt a little bit sore before the doubles match, but it was worse afterwards. I've done all of my strength work, but I probably haven't had enough massages. I'll now have to catch up on that and get on top of this again. I want to knock it on the head before I head off for Rome- next week and the Italian Open.
I'm pretty confident I'll get the shoulder good and strong again, but it's worrying when these things happen. I didn't have any problems at all in Adelaide and I was able to get through that doubles match in five sets with Mark Woodforde. The way I look at it is that this is just another bad trot and I'm going to come through it okay at the other end. I'm still hitting the ball really well, so it's a matter of concentrating on getting the shoulder into the best possible condition. If the problem persists in Rome, I'll obviously have to reconsider my schedule. I'm due to play Hamburg and the World Team Cup in Dusseldorf before the French Open. 

The plan is pretty simple. If I've still got the problem, I won't play - even if it means  missing out on the Grand Slams.   

Lots of POSITIVE VIBES TO PAT!!!!!!!

BACK