You would not have blamed Rafael Nadal for wanting to throw in the towel on 2015 after his third-round exit at the US Open in September.
The defeat to Fabio Fognini confirmed this as the worst year of Nadal’s professional career as for the first time since 2005 he ended a year without winning a grand slam title.
This appeared to be the season that confirmed the end of the Spaniard as a major force. Injuries looked as if they had finally caught up with him and his searing forehand had lost its zip.
But, whisper it quietly, Nadal, the winner of 14 majors, may not be done quite yet. He reached the final in Beijing last week before losing to Novak Djokovic, but in Shanghai he has really shone.
He claimed wins over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka in his run to the last four, but it was the manner of his win over the latter in the last eight that stood out.
It was vintage Nadal. He dominated the world No 4 and French Open champion, and looked to have rediscovered the power in his groundstrokes that has been lacking for much of the year.
Now, this may be a false dawn. It is just two tournaments in the tail-end of the season.
But there was enough on show in Shanghai to show Nadal is most definitely not done yet, and that while he is not getting back to the top of the game with Djokovic in the form he currently is in, he can certainly have a more competitive 2016.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
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Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
