Fernando Verdasco has sent Rafa Nadal crashing out of the Australian Open in the opening round for the first time ever. 87 winners fired Verdasco over the finishing line 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.
WIN OR LOSE, ALWAYS WITH RAFA!
More to follow…
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Sweat drips from the nose of Spain’s Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
A ball boy places an ice pack over the shoulders of Spain’s Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Spain’s Rafael Nadal sits in his chair with ice packs on his head during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Spain’s Rafael Nadal wipes his face with an ice pack during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain changes his head band during his first round loss to compatriot Fernando Verdasco during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his first round match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal signals a ball boy to bring his other towel during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola a su compatriota Fernando Verdasco durante su partido de primera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis disputado en Melbourne, hoy, 19 de enero de 2016. EFE/Mast Irham
El tenista español Rafael Nadal saca la bola ante su compatriota Fernando Verdasco durante su partido de primera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis disputado en Melbourne, hoy, 19 de enero de 2016. EFE/Mast Irham
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola a su compatriota Fernando Verdasco durante su partido de primera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis disputado en Melbourne, hoy, 19 de enero de 2016. EFE/Mast Irham
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal throws his towel to a ball boy during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Jason O’Brien
Spain’s Rafael Nadal hands plastic to a ball boy as he changes shirt during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Spain’s Rafael Nadal sits in his chair as he puts on a new head band during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain removes his sweatband after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain removes his sweatband after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, left, of Spain congratulates compatriot Fernando Verdasco after their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Rafael Nadal, right, of Spain congratulates compatriot Fernando Verdasco after their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain congratulates Fernando Verdasco of Spain on winning thier first round match during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, right, of Spain is consoled by compatriot Fernando Verdasco after his first round loss to Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain packs his bags as he leaves Rod Laver Arena following his loss to compatriot Fernando Verdasco in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal gestures as he leaves the court after defeat in his men’s singles match against compatriot Fernando Verdasco on day two of the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2016. AFP PHOTO / WILLIAM WEST– IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE
Rafael Nadal of Spain waves as he leaves Rod Laver Arena following his loss to compatriot Fernando Verdasco in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts as he leaves after losing his first round match against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing his first round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day two of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
What can I say Rafael. I show a brave face to others, but when I am alone the tears flow for you! What is the answer? Only you can work it out. Are you injured Rafa? 2 days ago, word got around that you were in pain when practising? I am an 80 year old lady n all I can do is pray for your good health n success, as I do for my family. God Bless You Rafa. Love your Aussie Abuela. xxx😀😊😇
Very sad match today. Something must happen now. Please Rafa, do the right decisions. It´s time for that. Always with you!!!
Time for an new coach before its too late,enough time wasted waiting for Rafa to come alive, even that may not save him, but its worth a try, something is terribly wrong and a drastic coaching change is needed right NOW if he has any hope this year or it will be his last..
and a premature final curtain will fall on this greatest and most exciting of all players…. what a waste that will be.
The likes of Elizabeth Howard, Maria and especially Fan Love, who all praise and overpraise Nadal to high heavens, even when Nadal is truthfully admitting to the whole world that he played badly, should all be caned for their lies and deceit which has contributed to Nadal seeing himself as a king, when clearly his crown has long been taken away from him. Fan Love in particular should be immediately banned from this site. His or her contributions are totally meaningless, completely useless ad infinum!
Now to Nadal, our great chamoion. Very unfortunate that all the things I prophesied about you are all coming true. I remember saying it loud and clear last year that unless you completely OVERHAUL your game, the way up will continue to be down, down and down. Infact, I still think that the worst is yet to come!
I also remember saying it that the only permanent thing in life is CHANGE. He who refuses to change will ultimately be blown away by the wind of change. And this is exactly what is happening to you now, Nadal. I cannot understand why you dread CHANGE so much. I cannot understand why you have refused to come down from your high horse of arrogance. You think you know it all! Because of your arrogance, you have now become an average player.
If you cannot beat a journey man like Fernando Verdasco, how do you ever hope to beat Novak, the King of Tennis? What, Novak would have beaten Verdasco with one arm tied to his back!!!. Of course, your plan to beat Djokovic is to wait for him to drop in form!!! Isn’t that a lazy and hopeless strategy? When serious players like Roger, Andy are seriously strategizing day and night and changing Coaches to ensure that Djokovic is overcome, you, on the other hand, are simply waiting for Djokovic to lose form!
I advise that you take some time off Tennis, take a long retreat to decide if you do really want to continue or not. Afterall, tennis is not life. However, since I know you have a phobia for change and therefore will not replace Uncle Toni, I advise you simply exit the game. Go and marry your sweet heart, Maria Perrello, raise kids, go scuba diving, play some poker with Ronaldo, go watch football with Cristiano Ronaldo…..just stay off Tennis to protect whatever is left of your legacy, PLEASE!!
Fellow Rafael Nadal Fans, let’s tell ourselves some home truth which the likes of Elizabeth Howard, Fan Love and Maria will hate to hear. One simple truth is that there is no longer a BIG 4. What we have now is the BIG 3 – Novak, Andy and Roger. These are the only 3 real stars who rule the world of men’s Tennis on planet Earth.
You are right Deep Thinker, I basically wrote the same piece. I am absolutely not a Federer fan and (although I think he is the greater player compared to Roger) neither a Novak fan, but these guys are constantly looking for changes that improve their games indeed. And if you write that down, you are deemed a troll by these young impolite broads on this webpage.
Hey Deep Thinker and Move In or Move Out, did you realize we are one – ask Maria!
“I am he as you are he as you are me
And we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun
See how they fly
I’m crying
Sitting on a cornflake
Waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you’ve been a naughty boy
You let your face grow long
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g’ joob”
John Lennon, 1967
I adore Rafa to, but today i am very angry. Something in Rafas team is going wrong. Uncle Toni must have the onesty to say” dear Rafa my time is over, you have to take another coach”! Rafa is so a wonderful person and i am sure, he is not able too say to his unlce ” game over”! In this condition it’s better that Rafa says good by to tennis! All the great champions change their coaches in their sports carrier, only Rafa not!
A sad angry Rafa Fan
I fully agree!
maybe he should watch the women Zhanghand Doi.
I adore rafa, but i was really not sure about a win today – only sincerely hoping for one. after watching a bit of the 4th set i stopped. to be honest i dont know if rafa really wants to carry on winning cos the way he is going about it doesnt seem like it. tactics (if any) need to be there or change or ???? keep hoping for a come back – a change ……. . this is where novak is different – he’ll do anything and everything to be at the top – mental, physical, tactical, emotional etc. thats where novak is better than most not just the tennis itself.
i wish someone who rafa respects and admires would speak to him and convince him to do things differently.
i am at a loss – too disappointed but still with rafa and hoping.
vamos!!!!!
Rafa played relatively OK, but Verdasco just had that fire today. Why do these lower guys seem more inspired when they play Nadal? Because Rafa’s aura of invincibility is gone.
Rafa should figure out something new in his game if he wants to continue his career, because he can’t continue the same old routines and expect a different result. Not necessarily a new coach, but add more weapons, tweak his game a bit. More power to the serve.
Hopefully 2016 does not become 2015 2.0.
Well done Verdasco. Chin up Rafa, this may be a blessing in disguise. More time to practise now and prepare for upcoming tournaments Or, you know, reassess your place in the tennis world:)
Another ignorant observer who looks away. The other guys play so well against Rafa, right? Sure, but never against Murray, Roger or Novak. What a coincidence. Rafa played horrid tennis. Face it.
J Beer I wonder what you have achieved except a negative streak. I pity you.
Dude, did you read my comment at all? Were you born such a hater or did it take you lots of practice to become one? Either way, well done! Elizabeth is right, you’re pitiable. Pathetic.
What is with those slice serves .. first or second? He hit like 4 serves above 198k. Fastest 200k in the entire 4.5 hrs. Most of his serves were weak body serves. That is not top 50 level. Ironically when returning his first serve return position was better than his second serve return position. His rally balls had NOTHING on them. No spin no pace no depth no placement most of the time. He should stop humiliating himself and call it quits or get a real coach. His serving today was a disgrace. Did not watch joker spank him in doha but it would have been worse if it were him or fed or murray or kei or stan or… instead of V today. Sometimes I feel ppl like fan love are trolls here. How can they write the rubbish that they do if they really watched the match. Hate to say this.. but I think it’s over for rafa. This was probably the worst he has played since Wimbledon last year. Read somewhere that he is using natural gut now. V unusual when he relies so much on spin. All in all I think his team is clueless now. Heads should roll starting with his uncle but sadly will not.
Elizabeth Howard and all the others who go ad hominem on me all the time, maybe it’s better for you not to focus so much on the messenger but on the message. What we witnessed today is the next consequence of Nadal’s own stubborn approach. It is clear that Nadal is not interested in changes, actually he is afraid of changes.
He does not want to change coach. Why would he? Well maybe because your coach has no ideas other than ‘we do the same thing as in 2008, 2010, 2013’. Guess what. We are in 2016 now and just like in 2014 and 2015, your plan is not working at all.
Nadal practices and practices, but still manages to hit second serves that are bombed away by his opponents. There is no other player in the top 20 who manages to come up with such weak second serves, and this after a career like Nadal. How the h*ck is this possible, how can a coach not see this. I mean Roger has days where he serves a bit less, Novak has those days too and so does Murray. But none of them has days where there second serve is softer than Serena’s. Rafa does, and this is a thing of the last two years especially.
And then the other peculiar proof. Rafa lives in an imaginary world where if he just pretends that all is the same as before, results will come. You can even see it in his hairstyle. He’s totally bold on top, but no, let’s pretend there is plenty of hair. Any man knows you should not wear your hair long when you are bolding, it looks awful! But no, Rafa pretends he’s still the young version of himself. Guess what Rafa. Your tactics don’t work and neither does your haircut,
I know more about Nadal and his career than any of you here and I know what I see when his last 5 slam results are QF, QF, 2R, 3R and 1R. A downward spiral and all your comments here on how great he played in the fall and in Doha were sheer, sheer, sheer bullocks. I regret it more than any Nadal supporter but ignoring it and just crying ‘o misery’ will not help anyone. Face the facts is part 1 of solving a problem. And it’s really time for Nadal, otherwise he should retire and he will retire (he mentioned it himself last year ‘Another year like 2015, then I will think about it, yes’).
Forget second serves.. he was knifing the first serves at 170Kmh. What he practices is beyond me. At this rate 2016 will b worse than 2015. He is already loosing points from AO.
J BER thinks he know more about tennis than anyone else, LOL he has some ego. We all know that Rafael is not at his best but J BEER is scarcely the answer with his crude comments., As for Rafael’s hair, I have met him and he is one of the most gorgeous men I have met. Hair alone does not make the man.
Elizabeth Howard, you did not even know about Rafa’s permanent injury to his left foot. Instead of showing interest in it (when I told you about it), you went ballistic again. You are a very bad person, you have a very negative, self centered character, with no self critic whatsoever. I truly hope for you will find ways to better yourself.
Dindnt watch the match but i am so shocked to hear this after 2 sets up to loose the match
?????????
1st round loss of grandslam
Not done rafa ……
So upset
I can feel what u r going from
But be strong
I am glad I did not see the match, because I will cry. I am sooooooo sad for you Rafa. i was hoping you were going to be in the last 4. I have been watching some of your old games, and they are the same. Long, Long shots and this is very tired for you.
I dont know what to tell you, but some of your friends in this post are telling you YOU HAVE TO ADD A NEW COUCH. You dont come to the net. It is the same old routine. I am so sorry for you Rafa. Please think if you want to continue to play tennis or just retire. I know it is your uncle, but please bring new blood to your team if you want to be one of the best. Te quiero mucho pero me da tristeza te hayas ido a casa en el primer round sobre todo con el odioso de tu paisano. Please think about this.
It’s time for realistic action, a new coach and game change is a must. I fear for the French Open otherwise. So many players have benefitted from new coach, why not Rafa. Uncle Toni, please do the right thing. Rafa is being thrashed and you too. Always support Rafa and will root for him, but that’s not enough anymore. Rafa so many players have your no., time to change it. DOHA and now AO 😱😢😥😪😔
😥😔 Win or lose, always with Rafa 😘❤️
So sad for Rafael, thought he would win with the great start to the 5th. Verdasco on fire but will he maintain this form. Important that Rafael stays positive, Greg Rudeski most positive about him still. Let us true supporters stay positive too.
We remain positive and humble in defeat, but we all have to say enough is enough! Get a new coach! Verdasco proved that today
Yes we have to stay true to Rafa.💖.
He will be back, with a bang.
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee you Rafa.💖.
He needs to totally revamp his game. The spin just doesn’t work anymore. Add a new coach to the team because otherwise 2016 is going to be 2015 all over again.
Today Rafa should have used his slice to try and make verdasco hit the balls from a lower point but he just kept on giving him the best striking positions.
Very very depressed Rafa.💖. I knew it from the fourth set on, dat it was not going to work for you. You , definitely need to change or do something new with your game.
I was hoping to see you win the AO.
Anyway better luck next time. You played your best.
Thank you for that.
But , will remain your loyal fan.
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee you Rafa.💖.
My heart goes out to Rafa. My loyalty remains strong.
Nadal is not the same player he used to be. He must either retire or get a new coach.
Wanda who are you to tell him retire? Let us support and not talk nonsense. Perhaps adding someone like Pat Cash would help
He definitely needs a nw coach. His uncle Toni cum coach is so confident that Rafa cando it unfortunately it’s not working. So l hope his uncle Toni will let go of his coaching reign over Rafa and get a new coach fast or else Rafa will end up like 2015. Furthermore Rafa needs to change his playing style and tactics. If old habits die hard and he can’t change then Rafa will also head downhill. Very very sad indeed. Hope there’s a way out for him.
I told you verdasco had a tough draw.
I told you rafa played badly also two weeks ago. But noooo, j beer is an idiot. Get real people. It is over. Regretfully.
JB is a nuisance who poses as a Nadal fan but is not. You are so overrrrrr. Great win by Verdasco but our champion will always be a champion.
Hmmnn…..