Ouch......

Ok - you know the situation - you're watching the 9 o'clock news and you're warned - "some of you might find these pictures disturbing". What happens? You're compulsively glued to the screen, unable to divert your eyes as the horrors unfold.

Well the following scenario has bits that might make you squeamish - so look away now!

There is a modern shot in tennis often referred to as the SOS, or emergency forehand. Basically, you're trying to return an extremely wide ball on your forehand side. In days gone by, you would have resorted to a lob, giving you some recovery time.

These days, many of the pros change to a continental grip and hit downwards, like slicing a water melon. The advantage is your return will remain low over the net, often forcing your opponent to err on the volley. To make the shot, there is a need to stretch your hitting arm and legs to their limit (bit like Inspector Gadget). Kim Clijsters used to perform the splits - not something to try yourself without full medical insurance!

It is basically a squash shot - and Roger Federer for example is very good at it.

Now if you look at Roger's torso then compare it with mine - well enough said. (as an aside my favourite rally partner keeps a picture of Mrs Federer's semi-naked husband on her office desk!)

But a week past Saturday, whilst playing social doubles, I attempted to emulate Roger's SOS forehand and felt a twang in my upper arm. At this stage I should have done an Andy Murray i.e. screamed out and rolled around in agony (sorry Andy). But I played on like the hero I am, with stiff upper lip (and bendy lower arm).

Are you still reading - or have you fainted?

It was only when I got home and couldn't move my thumb that I declared - "Houston we have a problem"

Now I'm going to spare you many of the ensuing dramatic details - including inability to do lots of things, including scratching my bum (Nadal take note). But I have damage to the radial joint - with a bit of "itis" (with all due respect to Zorba, the Greeks are to blame for most things!) Consequently my tennis playing has come to a halt - and I'm frustrated and, being a man, often grumpy.

However, today I went to B...s the chemist to buy a support bandage, to allow me to start doing some things I'd stopped doing.

Thank-you B...ts assistant for being lovely and also taking the time to measure my wrist and put on the bandage. (I think I would've had to stand on my head , like Mr Bean, to do it myself).

I won't be attemping that shot again - but I will defintely go back to B....s!