After a contest that lasted near five hours in Melbourne, a shocking turn of events saw Fernando Verdasco beat 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the Australian heat. Does this mark the swift end to Rafael Nadal’s realistic credentials to win another Grand Slam before he hangs up his racquet? Should tennis fans acknowledge and respect altered expectations for Nadal, despite the great accolades he’s attained throughout his illustrious career?
When looking at the content of Nadal’s early loss to Verdasco, there were reasons for pessimism and negativity, but there were also positive signs in the match’s duration. Some of Nadal’s flaws seemingly were emphasized because of the nature of Verdasco’s game. Verdasco will also look for the lines, look for the winners, which makes Nadal’s forehand side play shorter central balls, because of the attacking, advancing Verdasco. On the other hand, it can be argued that Nadal was subdued for large portions of the match. The loss of momentum from 2-0* up in the deciding set, to lose six games in a row, was something we haven’t been accustomed to from a mentally stable and strong-minded Nadal. So is it finally time we respect the regression to one of the greatest warriors and competitors of the game’s history?
In many ways it can be challenged that Nadal has a problem, both short term and long term, in terms of getting back to the heights his game was when he was at his very best, including most recently in 2013. Firstly, his confidence needs to return at the highest level–but that may take a year, it could take two years. That would make Rafael Nadal 31 years of age, which earmarks that time isn’t necessarily on his side at this point. Furthermore, you’ve got to factor that his type of game style demands so much physically out of his body that potentially his body won’t necessarily hold up for the duration–like Roger Federer, for example. So, it can be argued to a certain extent that Nadal might not necessarily have the option of thinking long term when you take into account his previous battles with injury and, like I said, the physical and strenuous demands he’d expect and anticipate from his body.
Another talking point is the forehand, a shot he’s pulverized over the years. It can be argued as one of the best shots in the game, but inside the last year the depth and confidence surrounding that shot has regressed. It almost feels like his confidence radiates through that shot alone when it is firing on all cylinders.
On the bright side, you can’t deny the outstanding achievements and back-against-the-wall performances from Rafael Nadal and, if he continues to channel his fighting spirit and will to win, that can only aid him in his comeback to the very top. Will the Spaniard win another Slam and reassert himself back in the elite? It’s rash to write off a player that’s achieved so much and an argument can be made that he’ll always be a contender on the red clay in Paris. In many ways you have to look at the opponents’ perspective; many more players are fancying their chances of getting a win over Rafael Nadal in 2015/2016, but when you focus on his achievements, particularly on the clay, he still has that invincibility against many of the Top 100, who are in uncharted territory.
Nadal’s past achievements are enough to warrant him being a contender at Slam level, simply because not many people can say they’ve won a Grand Slam title and only one person can say they’ve won more than 14 Grand Slams. That alone provides enough evidence that Nadal can compete with the very best, but the physical nature of his game is the one element that creates doubts as to whether he can produce it on a consistent basis when he finally plays in his 30s– if he decides to play into his 30s.
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