On Saturday last in Buenos Aires, Rafael Nadal took on young Austrian Dominic Thiem in the semi finals of the Argentinian Open on his beloved red clay. The addition of Buenos Aires to his tournament schedule was to improve Rafa’s confidence, get some match time and a likely tournament victory ahead of the long run on Masters 1000 events in North America and Europe.
The outcome as so often with Nadal these days was one we would not have predicted. Nadal held match point against his opponent yet Thiem held firm and the match went to three sets. Fast forward to a final set tiebreak and an uncertain Nadal lacking confidence and his game would face a first to seven shootout. Surely the 14 time grand slam champion, the king of clay with all his experience would step up to the plate, remember who he was and what he had achieved and finally put the cocky upstart to bed. But as we have seen so much in the past 18 months, surprising losses from the jaws of victory have begun to punctuate Nadals latter career. A 7-4 loss in the breaker sending the young Austrian to the final.
Despite getting to the semi final, Nadal seemed uncertain, lacking confidence and sneaked through his earlier rounds with luck. No longer can Rafa count on his name or presence to simply win matches, the mystical clay court aura, the bulging biceps no longer hurts opponents so much as they did. It does not spell the end to his career but it does mean that Nadal must now reevaluate his own game and make changes so to become more effective against his opponents.
Nadal has a very simplistic game, get it onto his forehand as quick as possible and pummel the opponents weakest side. Although a formidable shot this is no longer as effective and feared a shot as it once was. Players realise that by taking away time to think and to set up that Rafa’s soft underbelly can be got at. Champions must have a certain level of arrogance to reach the top but it is such refusal to change and belief that the game which has won him so much can win again. Rafael needs to open his mind and attempt to change his tactical approach. From a technical point of view he must flatten out his forehand from time to time and do what his opponents do so frequently to him.
With his abrasive style of play Nadal has undoubtedly got many many miles on the clock and a change of tactic is just what the Majorcan needs to prolong his career. The knees and ankles which have taken the pounding on the courts certainly could increase the tennis expectancy if Nadal were to be a little cuter with his shots, go for a little more and shorten his matches. From my comfy armchair it seems an obvious change to make but I havent half a % of Nadals talent nor have I won 14 tournaments let alone 14 grand slams. As I have stated before Nadal may need another addition to his team to bring some fresh thinking and ideas to his game. Nadal’s woes are no longer about Djokovic but a demise in his confidence and the effectiveness in his overall game. If Rafa wishes to maintain his position in the Top 10 he must act now. But sometimes being so winning does things to your head. Repeating what Rafa has done before would be like insanity.de
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