Thomas Muster from training on fractured leg to being ‘disputed’ king of clay

Thomas Muster was called ‘king of clay’ years before a certain Rafael Nadal redefined what the term meant. But unlike Nadal, Muster’s feats on clay were not seen in the kindest lens by many.

Despite winning just the one Grand Slam – the 1995 French Open – he is considered one of the best players on clay. But clay-court specialist, in his case, was often a disparaging moniker than a complimentary one.

When the Austrian became world No 1 in 1996, a year after his stunning streak on clay, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were among those vocal about him not deserving the honour because most of the points were earned on clay.

But the most enduring image of the Austrian isn’t one from the many clay court events he dominated. Instead, it’s from a practice court, where he is famously captured hitting tennis balls sitting in a special chair with a fractured leg while recovering from a near-fatal accident during Miami Open in 1989.