Fans of Rafa Nadal are more puzzled than ever about their hero’s future as one of the greats of the game.
Even if Nadal at times in the first two sets did show glimpses of the player who has won 14 Grand Slam titles, his collapse on his way to what looked like would be an easy victory over unpredictable Fabio Fognini in the third round of the U.S. Open added doubt as to whether Nadal indeed will regain his former level of invincibility. BY JAMES BECK
THIS NADAL LACKED TENACITY, CONFIDENCE
Before this latest setback, there was hope that Nadal would awake one day and be his old self. He was just going through a down time in his career. But there may have been more to this meltdown.
The desire was there, but maybe not as much as the old Nadal.
This Nadal lacked tenacity.
This Nadal lacked confidence.
These two characteristics may be one and the same, or at least intermingled.
Confidence can breed tenacity.
MATCH TURNED ON FOGNINI INCIDENT
It may be that Fognini simply was his normal carefree, unmotivated self in those first two sets in the little Italian’s comeback five-set victory over Nadal. Fognini didn’t even make Nadal work hard at times in those first two sets.
Then with Nadal appearing to be on the verge of advancing while up a break in the third set, there was a brief incident where Fognini verbally second-guessed a decision by the chair umpire. Nadal was serving, but before anyone knew what was happening, the Spaniard appeared to totally lose focus.
FOGNINI SUDDENLY STARTED PLAYING LIGHTS OUT
Perhaps it was because Nadal was playing the mercurial Fognini, and he figured he could get away with a lack of concentration for a brief time. There was always the tiebreaker, and that’s all he needed to win the match.
But Rafa never reached a tiebreaker. Fognini suddenly was playing lights out, dictating play from the baseline with his unorthodox groundstrokes. A short time later, Fognini was on the board as Rafa failed to regain his momentum.
Even Rafa seemed to brush aside the fact that a fourth set was starting. There was no sense of urgency, no tenacity.
No problem. There was still the fifth set, Rafa seemed to think.
The end was near for Rafa’s dream of extending his Grand Slam title streak to a record 11th straight year.
A DIFFICULT LOSS TO OVERCOME
This will be a difficult loss for Nadal to overcome. The Australian Open is five months away, and the only thing Rafa can do is work on his game in basically irrelevant situations. No one really cares what happens between the U.S. Open and Down Under.
Nevertheless, getting some wins really matter to Nadal’s confidence.
At 29 years old, Nadal is arriving at a delicate point in his tennis career.
Just a year ago, it was generally an accepted belief that Nadal would eventually challenge Roger Federer’s total of 17 Grand Slams. All it would take would be a few more French Open crowns. But then came the slip-up in Paris . . . and London . . . and now New York.
NADAL MUST REGAIN HIS OLD TENACITY
Nadal can still right the ship in his 30th year. But he has to regain his tenacity. Remember 2008 when he won the French and Wimbledon, and then the Olympic gold. He stepped into the court a little like Fognini and blasted winners.
That was like a lifetime ago for a tennis great. This coming Australian Open may be one of his last chances to do something that could make his mark on history even more impressive – a second career Grand Slam.
James Beck is the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com
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