Written by Hayley Winter

It’s an all too common occurrence in sport where an athlete’s injury becomes the story.

No athlete wants to be injured, particularly ahead of a major championship or competitive season.

Athletes often have a natural tendency to push hard, work through pain and feel that if they're not training, they're at a disadvantage. This can sometimes lead to a premature return to training.

And when an injury recurs, it can bring a whole new set of psychological challenges to the fore.

Rafael Nadal was no exception. During Wimbledon, he experienced the additional frustration of injury in his opening match, resulting in defeat just weeks after winning the French Open.

For someone at the top of his game, Nadal was surrounded by physiotherapists, coaches and a support team, all involved in assessing his readiness to compete.

But despite the advice available to an athlete, the desire to compete can be incredibly powerful.

It's in Nadal's nature to fight on court. That'...