Illness update

There is always a lot of talk about injury on the tour, but not as much about illness. Nicole Vaidisova has been out for a while with glandular fever, and Sam Stosur is recovering (or perhaps, as of this writing, recovered) from a virus. Jelena Jankovic had a cold during the East West Bank Classic last week, and Anna Chakvetadze came down with a cold right after she won the Stanford title. Apparently, she was ill the entire time she was in San Diego for the Acura Classic. (Earlier in the season, Patty Schnyder had a cold and had to retire from a match because the trainer had no nose spray in her bag.)

We all expect players to play through minor injuries and illnesses, and they do, but we should also understand that they are not going to be playing at their highest level when they do so, and that their bodies are not likely to withstand the demands of the next tournament.