Mike Cormack

Rafael Nadal.

In January it looked like Rafael Nadal’s career might be in jeopardy, but just eight months later he finds himself playing perhaps the best tennis of his life.

When Nadal limped off the court in Melbourne, after being forced to retire from his quarter-final match against Andy Murray in January at the Australian Open, there were whispers the tendonitis he was suffering in both of his knees, would never allow him to dominate again.

The injuries, first diagnosed a year ago following his first ever defeat at the French Open, forced him to skip that year’s Wimbledon and his results upon his return to action did little to quell the speculation that at just 23, his best days were now behind him.

At the 2009 Rogers Cup in Montreal, his first tournament since being diagnosed with the injury, Nadal lost in the quarter-finals to Juan Martín del Potro.

A few weeks later in the US Open semi-finals, he fell again to eventual U.S. Open champion del Potro, this time in convincing fashion, 2–6, 2–6, 2–6.

At the ATP World Tour Finals, Nadal lost all three of his matches against Robin Söderling, Nikolay Davydenko and Novak Djokovic, failing to win at least a set.

Following the disappointment in Australia, doctors prescribed two weeks of rest and then two weeks of rehabilitation.

Whatever the elixir may have contained it clearly worked: Flash forward eight months later and Nadal has regained his No. 1 ranking, won the French Open and Wimbledon title and on Saturday in his semi-final against Andy Murray in Toronto, he’ll be gunning for his 35th win in his past 36 matches.

When asked whether his impressive summer of work added up to his best year ever, the normally humble Nadal suggested we reserve judgement.

"We will see when the season is over," he said. "I don’t know. Right now is one of the best moments of my career. This summer I’ve played unbelievable."

When asked how his knees are feeling this week, Nadal gave an answer that should send a chill throughout the men’s Tour, for the remainder of this week and in two week’s time at the U.S. Open.

"I feel perfect. Thank you."