Opinion Rafa untaped,unplugged

Watchers of sport often marvel at the restorative effects of the assorted sprays,unguents and tapes that the physio carries around in his medical kit. The cloud of magic spray offers apparently instantaneous relief from sprains and horrific falls. The neon-coloured strips that fast bowlers and tennis players sport seem to keep some acute debilitation at bay.

In this universe of therapeutic thingamajig,Rafael Nadal’s knee tapes,which finally came off in his second round win over Jesse Levine in the Rogers Cup on Wednesday,hold influence only in the icy outer realms. If the wrapping around his left knee provided any relief to his worn tendons,it did not show for close to half a decade. The white strip,which first made an appearance in 2007,has since become a part of his on-court persona,as much as the ticks or the pirate pants of the early days. In the meanwhile,the knee has seen little corresponding amelioration. The purpose of the bandaging may have mainly been preventive — to encourages use of the correct muscles and limit undesirable movement… prevent a potentially aggravating activity all together,according to Alasdair Jones,Director at Colchester Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic.

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Nonetheless,the band of white never failed to inspire unease among the fans,each stretch and slide pushing Nadal towards a fast approaching and definitive breakdown,in the mind’s eye of the faithful. To explain something that was there,and served no visible purpose,the fan had to turn to invention and fancy. Entire forums (the debates fiercely contested and rarely settled,in the fashion of most sports discussions online) have been devoted to arguments over whether Nadal really need the tapes or if he wore them just to keep the opponent guessing. A few,assuming the air of concession or reason,agreed that subversion may not have been the primary reason for the existence of the tape,but it was a secondary,welcome add-on,the idea doubtless the brainchild of Uncle Toni.

And now,finally,the tapes have come off. For the shortest time — the second round game lasted around 80 minutes — it was like watching the Nadal of old and to watch him run and retrieve without an ominous foreboding beginning to constrict one’s throat was a rare and sovereign pleasure.

(Raakesh is a principal correspondent based in New Delhi)

raakesh.natraj@expressindia.com