Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray: Should They Be Playing in Basel?

The draw at the ATP World Tour 500 event in Basel, Switzerland is stacked this week, to say the least, with five of the world's top 10 in the mix. Leading the way are Novak Djokovic, making his way back to the court from injury, and Andy Murray, who just swept the "Asian swing" of the fall season.

It's great for the tournament organizers and fans that both of them are there, joining hometown hero Roger Federer to make the event an impressive one.

But, is it the best thing for them?

Djokovic has had a year for the ages, winning 10 titles—among them three Grand Slams and five Masters Series 1000s—and only losing three matches.

However, in two of those losses—the finals in Cincinnati to Murray and the recent Davis Cup tie to Juan Martin del Potro—injury was the main culprit for defeat. The Davis Cup loss was due to a back injury and has forced Djokovic off the tour since.

Ten titles won equals a lot of matches played over the course of a season, which puts a lot of wear and tear on the body. One look at Djokovic's legs bandaged in Kinesio tape all year shows just how much.

Athletes, though, always want to get back to competition after being forced out of action.

One has to wonder if another week off could benefit Djokovic in the long run. With the way the ATP is structured with regard to scheduling, the 2012 season is right around the corner, and the current No. 1 will have a lot of points to defend in the months ahead if he wants to stay on top.

Speaking of 2012, the year ahead is a big one for Murray as well.

It's no secret that he's the best active male player without a Slam title to his credit. The strides he made in 2011 at the Majors show he's closer than ever to shedding that tag.

Outside of the Slams, his play has been tremendous, and he is returning to the court after winning three titles in a row, including the Shanghai Masters event.

Murray's made it known that his immediate goal is to finish the year in the top three, but is taking a wild card into Basel the best move?

That push for the top three is admirable, but the Australian Open will be here before the players know it. Keeping the legs as fresh as possible is the key to success, and for someone who plays like Murray, that becomes even more critical.

Djokovic and Murray are helping to make the Basel tournament a must-see event.

But, those two also must keep the bigger picture in mind: further establishing their places in the game.