Toni Nadal launches scathing criticism of modern day tennis, believes over-aggressive playing style detrimental to growth: "The problem has been evident for a long time"

Toni Nadal is not a fan of how modern tennis is being played as he believes the over-aggressive nature of it is detrimental to the growth of the sport.

Nadal writes a regular column for El Pais and in the latest edition of the column, he had some harsh words for the modern type of tennis. It comes after his nephew suffered yet another injury ending his title defence at the Australian Open. He wrote:

"Today I am going to regret, once again, that the tennis leaders have spent so long without doing anything to protect the players a bit from a discipline that has gradually become too aggressive. It seems that no one is willing to slow down the speed of the ball, also hindering the showiness of the execution and the tactics, and to reduce the suddenness to which the body of the tennis players is subjected to return it and to maintain, in turn, the required speed."

He further wrote:

"The problem has been evident for a long time and, even so, no measure has been taken to reduce the intensity of the rallies and the fact that too many tennis players of the stature of Gustavo Kuerten , Magnus Norman, Lleyton Hewitt (all of them former number one), to name just a few, had to retire early. It has not been the case of Roger Federer, Andy Murray or Rafael, who have enjoyed very long careers, but not for that reason, the high price that has to be paid for it is belied."