Nadal calls for shorter season to avoid injury

MELBOURNE: New Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal on Monday called for a shorter season and less hard court tournaments, saying players needed more time off to avoid injury.

The Spanish world No 1, who won the title here on Sunday in five sets over Roger Federer, saw his spectacular 2008 campaign end prematurely when he retired from the Paris Masters with knee tendinitis in October.

"I worry about the tour more than I worry about myself because life after tennis continues," Nadal said after winning his first hard court Grand Slam.