Former World No. 1 Jim Courier Says That The End In Rafael Nadal’s Career is Going To Come Sooner Than Roger Federer

Former World number one Jim Courier is convinced that Rafael Nadal will not be able to endure the unprecedented longevity in the sporting world of tennis that Roger Federer has managed to accomplish. Courier reckons that the reason why Nadal would be able to stay competitive for a long period of time is the way he plays the game.

In an article by Tennis Tonic, Courier described the distinction in playing styles between the Swiss legend and the Spanish tennis star. According to Courier, Federer treats every tennis match as if it is a dance number, while Nadal treats a tennis match more like a battlefield.

"That sort of explains why the Spaniard will not enjoy the same longevity as Roger, even though we would all love to see Rafael competing when he is 33," Courier said. "Credit must be given to those who taught Roger to play that way."

In the 2014 season, Nadal has struggled to stay in shape due to a number of injuries. During the Australian Open in January, he suffered from a back injury and lost to Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the finals. In the Wimbledon championship, Nadal pulled off a wrist injury that saw him losing in the fourth round against Australian rising tennis star Nick Kyrgios and forcing him to withdraw from the U.S. Open. Nadal also missed the remainder of the Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP, tournaments in the latter part of 2014 due to appendicitis.

Federer, on the other hand, has remained a threat in men's tennis. Although he was not able to win another Grand Slam in the last 2 years, he has been able to demonstrate extraordinary performance. He has reached his first Grand Slam finals since 2012 at Wimbledon. In an interview during his participation in the inaugural team tournament International Premier Tennis League in India, Federer said that at 33 years old, he is still one of the fittest guys on tour.

Read more: Roger Federer: 'I'm One Of The Fittest Guys On Tour'

Nadal is expected to return to action in Abu Dhabi for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Federer, on the other hand, will begin his 2015 season at the Brisbane International, where he is a runner-up last season.