Pundits Declare Decline of Rafa Nadal

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Simon Briggs, writing for the UK Telegraph, provided the strongest reaction to the defeat, saying it showed Nadal’s aura was “well and truly busted”.

“Everyone knows the way to beat Nadal,” Briggs wrote.

“Unless you are Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray, two of the few players who could potentially outrally him, you just have to think big and hit big — the model established by Lukas Rosol in his shock Wimbledon win of 2012.

“You can see why opponents would now look at a match against Nadal as an opportunity rather than a death sentence.”

New York Times’ Christopher Clarey agreed, saying the manner of Verdasco’s victory ”is only going to encourage Nadal’s future opponents to take more risks under pressure.”

Peter Bodo, writing for ESPN, pointed out a technical decline in Nadal which meant he had lost his ability to “swarm and overwhelm opponents.”

“Nadal appears to have a compound problem,” Bodo said.

“He has squandered a significant amount of his once-immense mystique and, for complex reasons, his forehand is no longer the weapon it once was.

“In fairness, he can still lay the hammer down on most ATP players. But the elite competitors and the shot-makers who get on a roll, as Verdasco did Tuesday, have become a problem.”

Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, writing for Bleacher Report, said the performance raised serious questions about Nadal’s ability to ever contend for a grand slam title again.

“Once a fixture in the semi-finals and finals at Grand Slams, Nadal is trending down, and out,” Corbett wrote.

“(He) looked limited. His grunts sounded like vintage Nadal. His movement along the baseline seemed like vintage Nadal.

“But his weapons have diminished. He was giving all he had. It’s just no longer enough.”

Nick McCarvel, writing for USA Today, said Nadal had been “pedestrian at best” in the last three majors.

“He lost in the second round at Wimbledon (to qualifier Dustin Brown); the third round of the U.S. Open (to Italian Fabio Fognini); and here to Verdasco, who he held a 14-2 record against prior, including a five-set classic win in the 2009 semi-finals here,” McCarvey wrote.

“As Novak Djokovic continues to distance himself from the rest of the field in men’s tennis, the belief factor against Nadal seems to be growing.”

Many were not willing to write 14-times major winner off just yet, saying the clay court season — where he’ll chase an astounding 10th French Open title — would provide a better indication of where he’s at.

Nadal’s former Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja is convinced the Spanish great can still win another slam.

“He’s been there, he’s won so many and, yeah, he lost first round, but I really believe it’s not so easy to beat Rafa in the best of five ... and it might be different when he is able to get two or three matches under his belt,” Corretja told the BBC.

“I think he’s been a little bit unlucky with the draws. Usually we shouldn’t say that with Rafa, but I think with the momentum he needs, he’s been suffering tough losses because of that.”:

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Nadal Still Unsure of Comeback Date

French Open champion Rafael Nadal does not know when he will be fit to play tennis again, but insists he has "plenty of years ahead" in the sport.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion is recovering from a knee injury and has not played since Wimbledon in June.

"I will return to the court when I feel that the knee no longer gives me any pain, whether that is in two weeks or in three or four," said the Spaniard.

“Andy [Murray] is a player with an impressive talent and I always said he would win a Slam”Rafael Nadal

Nadal, 26, has slipped to fourth in the world rankings.

He is currently sidelined with a partial tear of the patella [kneecap] tendon and an inflammation of the Hoffa's fat pad [soft tissue behind the patella], and was forced to miss the Olympic Games and the US Open.

It remains doubtful whether he will be fit for the ATP World Tour Finals in London or Spain's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic, both in November.

Nadal's last match was a shock five-set defeat by Czech world number 100, Lukas Rosol, at Wimbledon on 28 June and he has yet to return to the court as he continues his rehabilitation in the gym.

"I am working as much as I can," he said. "I am doing everything they tell me to every day and the truth is that right now things are going well, more or less. The only thing is that I need a bit more time.

"We'll see how things develop in the next few weeks but my priority is to recover well - not quickly, but well - obviously as soon as possible, but the main thing is to have the certainty that you are fine when you do return."

Nadal has struggled with knee problems previously and was unable to defend his Wimbledon title in 2009 because of tendinitis.

This year he reached the Australian Open final in January, before winning his seventh French Open title in June, and aims to be competing for another Grand Slam title in Melbourne in the new year.

"What I hope for is to be ready to compete again for everything I want to compete for, like I did in the first six months of the year," he said. "That is what I will try to achieve. It's what I will fight for and work every day.

"I am 26 years old and I am confident I have plenty of years ahead. What I want is to recover well and to continue enjoying tennis and competition, which is what makes me happy right now."

The Spaniard also had a word for Andy Murray after the Scot won the US Open earlier this month to claim his first Grand Slam title.

"What has changed is his mentality," said Nadal. "His game has not changed practically at all, but winning the Olympic Games helped him a lot with the victory in New York.

"Andy is a player with an impressive talent and I always said he would win a Slam - not just one, he'll win more than one."

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Players Blast Madrid Blue

Novak Djokovic joined Rafael Nadal in blasting ATP executive suite for allowing a change to blue clay for the Madrid Masters without any consultation with players.

The one-year deal with tournament boss Ion Tiriac, a wise old fox for four decades in the tennis wars, was quietly pushed through under the table by ex-ATP CEO Adam Helfant last year without consultation.

The American left the job at the end of the year.

"The only disappointing thing from a player standpoint is that it was decided without players agreeing to it," Djokovic said.

"I'm not blaming the tournament, it is fighting for its own interests. But the ATP should have done a better job on player rights in protecting what the players want."

Djokovic also threw down a veiled warning for the week: "The hope of all players is that we won't have injuries and have a decent week of tennis."

Djokovic and especially home hero Nadal have come out firing, with the Spaniard doing most of the verbal heavy lifting on the issue.

"This is about history, the earth is red, not blue. Tennis is not only about show-business, there are more things to appreciate, history and tradition," Nadal said.

"Some symbolic things in the world should be preserved.

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Real Santiago Bernabeu Tennis

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, will try to set a record attendance for a tennis match when they face off at Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium in July.

'The objective of this exhibition match is to set a spectator record for a game of tennis, exceeding 80,000,' Real said on their website. 

The charity event, to be played on July 14, is being organised by the Realmadrid Foundation and the Rafa Nadal Foundation, with the proceeds going to projects developed by both around the world. 

Spaniard Nadal is a well-known Real fan while Serbian Djokovic has been a guest of honour at the club, and once wore a Real shirt when he walked out for a tennis match at the Madrid Masters. 

Nadal Wins Federer Semi Final

Rafael Nadal produced some scintillating tennis to come from one set down to beat Roger Federer and reach his second Australian Open final.

The world number two, who won the 2009 title, lost an opening set tie-break but hit back to take the next three and win 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

Third seed Federer saved one match point on Nadal's serve but the Spaniard held his nerve to take it on the next.

Nadal will play either Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.

It was another classic encounter in what remains one of sport's greatest rivalries, with the 10-time Grand Slam champion Nadal extending his winning record over Federer to 18 victories in 27 meetings.

The Mallorcan gave his best wishes to his defeated opponent after what he described as "another fantastic match".

Nadal, who injured his knee prior to the tournament, added: "Two Sundays ago I really couldn't imagine being in the final. It's a dream to be here."

Federer, bidding for a 17th Grand Slam title, started imperiously, breaking Nadal early to take a 3-0 lead only for the tenacious Spaniard to bite back to take the first set to a tie-break.

The four-time champion looked in control of the match until he relinquished his early break, with Nadal restoring parity in the seventh game thanks to a wonderful passing shot.

A mini-break was enough to ensure the 30-year-old Swiss prevailed to claim the opening set, but Nadal bounced back with vengeance to break his rival in the fifth game of the second set for an unassailable lead.

Federer's play was becoming increasingly wayward - he ended the match with 63 unforced errors compared with Nadal's 34 - as he tried in vain to fathom a way to penetrate's Nadal's stubborn defence.

Both players' service games faltered in the third set. The pair exchanged breaks before taking the set to a tie-break, with Nadal coming out on top despite Federer valiantly saving five set points.

The second seed went on to secure a crucial break in the ninth game of the final set to serve for an impressive win.

Nadal Nearly Quit AusOpen

Rafael Nadal has revealed his Australian Open was nearly over before it started after suffering crippling pain in his troublesome right knee on the eve of his first match.

Nadal showed no signs of the injury as he brushed aside America's Alex Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the second round, but said afterwards he was hit by the worst knee pain he had ever experienced on Sunday.

The Spanish world No 2 was only able to take to the court for his early evening match after intensive treatment including physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.

"I had a fantastic week of practice with nothing of pain, not one bad feeling on the knee and not one place on my body. So I was really, really happy with everything," said Nadal, who played with the knee heavily strapped.

"But yesterday afternoon the most strange thing ever to happen to me. I was sitting on a chair in the hotel. I felt like a crack on the knee. It happens a lot of time with articulation, movement.

"I stand up. I felt the knee was a little bit strange. I moved the leg like this two times to try to find the feeling," he added, gesturing.

"After the second time, the knee stays with an unbelievable pain completely straight. I really couldn't move the knee like this. I have no movement on the knee," Nadal said.

The 2009 champion said he then spent a "hard afternoon" doing an ultrasound at Melbourne Park and an MRI scan at a hospital, but the tests came up clear.

"Seriously, yesterday during the evening I wasn't 100 per cent sure I would have the chance to play, because with the movement of that knee I felt that I will not be able to play.

"I did a lot of treatment. The MRI was positive. Nothing wrong shows the MRI. So that's always a lot of calm. But still the knee, you know, with the pain."

Nadal, who believed the tendon may have been pinched, said he achieved full movement in his knee late Saturday after a lot of work on it but was still in pain.

"I wake up today (Monday) morning with a little bit better feeling. I did all the treatment. I was all the day doing the treatment.

"I started the match with a little bit of a scare at the beginning, and nervous because I was really disappointed yesterday. But, you know, after the first 10 games... I started to play with normal conditions.

"The best thing is I felt the knee very well," said 2009 Australian Open champion Nadal, who added he was upbeat about his fitness for the rest of the tournament.

"I was much more scared about the first match than the rest, because today now I have 48 hours to the next match.

"So I am really confident that having the worst feeling that I ever had in my knee yesterday and today was able to play. I have fantastic hope that's going to happen the same for after tomorrow."

Nadal's uncompromising style is sometimes blamed for his injury problems, and he complained this week that the demands of tennis could leave him in poor physical condition by the end of his career.

"He (Roger Federer) finishes his career like a rose because he has a privileged physique. But neither (Andy) Murray, nor (Novak) Djokovic nor I will finish fresh as a rose," he told Spanish media.

The Spaniard claimed the Australian Open title in 2009 but was forced to retire hurt against Andy Murray in 2010 and and was hampered by a left adductor injury in his quarter-final defeat to David Ferrer last year.

Nadal Needs to Shed Novak Block

Rafa in Wimbledon final

Rafael Nadal believes he needs to overcome a mental block against new Wimbledon champion Novak Djovokic.

The Serb appears to have a hold over Nadal, with Djokovic having followed up final victories at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome with a 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory at the All England Club.

That has helped see Djokovic replace Nadal at the top of the world rankings and the Spaniard admitted his rival has had the edge in the big points.

"When I was 100% to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change.

"Probably the mental part is a little bit dangerous for me, because when I was at 5-4 (in the first set), I played a bad game from 30-0. When I was 4-3 down in the fourth set, I played another bad game with my serve.

"To win these kind of matches, I have to play well (at those moments). These kind of points can change the match.

"When I had the break point in the first game of the fourth set, I didn't play that point well. That was a big moment for me. Because I came back with the 6-1, if I start the fourth with a break it can change everything.

"To change things I probably have to be a little bit less nervous, play more aggressive, and all the time be confident with myself. That's what I'm going to try next time. If not, I'm going to be here explaining the sixth."

Djokovic has now registered 48 victories from 49 matches in a phenomenal season that has also brought him the Australian Open and six ATP World Tour titles.

His only defeat has against Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals - and Djokovic said: "I managed to achieve a lifetime goal and I managed to make my dream come true, all in three days.

"It's just an incredible feeling that I'm never going to forget. This is the best day of my tennis career.

"For these kind of days, I was practising every day, being dedicated, being a tennis professional. Any athlete in the world dreams of being number one. This is something that gives us a lot of motivation.

"So finally when you really do it and when you know that you're the best, it's just an amazing achievement."

Rafa Nadal Critical of ITF Schedule

Rafael Nadal has launched a scathing attack on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) accusing it of having 'zero consideration' towards players.

The source of the Spanish star's irritation is the ITF's organisation of Davis Cup matches, which he labelled 'inconsiderate'.

Nadal, who is currently in London defending his Wimbledon title, has pulled out of Spain's Davis Cup clash against the United States next month to rest.

The world number one said that the tournament would not be able to attract the top players due to the hectic scheduling by the ITF and risked losing its prestige.

"The International Tennis Federation (ITF) continues to get it wrong by insisting with the format and calendar for the Davis Cup," he said.

"There is zero consideration towards us, the players. If the best players don't attend, the competition loses prestige. The ITF should ask themselves why this happens."

Priority

Nadal said that he wanted to remain in top shape for the US Open and had decided not to take part in the Davis Cup match to preserve his health.

"I won't be there," he said. "The priority is to be healthy and I have to stop. I can't be everywhere.

"After finishing the first part of the season I need to rest. I need 15 to 20 days to be in good shape for the second half of the season.

"I should have a check-up on my knees, and see how everything is going with the treatment we did, which is what has allowed me to carry on.

"The idea is to do what I did in 2010 to arrive the same or even better prepared for the US Open."

Image of the Week - Rafa Nadal's No.6

Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer in the Men's Final during the 2011 French Open held at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. Nadal has beatend Federer for the 17th time in 25 contests to keep his French Open title. (June 6, 2011 - Photo by PacificCoastNews.com)