In the wake of his third-round exit at the hands of compatriot Fernando Verdasco at the Miami Masters on Sunday, Spain's Rafael Nadal admitted he's having trouble regaining the rock solid composure that propelled him to victories in a number of big matches over the years, stressing that it's an issue he needs to fix with all his might.
During a post-match interview with several media reporters, the 28-year old Nadal talked about his difficulty controlling his emotions and nerve problems that has troubled him since the start of the season.
"It's not a tough issue to fix, but I'm going to keep trying," said Nadal. "I am trying my best. I am practising with the right attitude," Nadal said via ATP World Tour news.
"It's not the question of tennis, [It's] the question of being relaxed enough to play well on court. Today my game in general improved since a month and a half [ago]. But at the same time, [I'm] still playing with too many nerves for a lot of moments, in important moments."
Nadal, who only won one tournament (Argentina Open) at this point of the season, said he doesn't know when he's going to be able to overcome this 'nerve issues,' which he believed could haunt him for the entire season.
"I have been able to control my emotions during 90 per cent, 95 per cent of my matches of my career... But I'm going to fix it," Nadal said. "I don't know if [it'll be] in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I'm going to do it.
"It's something that I need to fix for myself and with my team. I need the help of my team, but especially I need the help of myself. That's what I am trying to do. Nobody's going to change the situation for you."
Throughout his career, Nadal has been known for his incredible poise that allows him to win close matches and pull off comebacks in big time tournaments. His unbroken will to win has been the Mallorcan Bull's trademark, and it's very unfortunate to see Nadal struggling to recapture his old mojo.
Then again, it could be a sign that Nadal's era of tennis dominance is now nearing the finish line. The 14-time Grand Slam champion has always found ways to overcome various injuries, rising from setbacks with a succession of masterful performances. In 2013, Nadal came back from a chronic left knee problem to win 10 calendar titles out of 14 tournaments.
The Spaniard's sheer determination was at the forefront in every win during that incredible run, making his diminishing composure a big issue he needs to address in the coming weeks as he prepares for French Open title defense. While it’s still premature to say Nadal’s run of supremacy is over, failure to win another Rolland Garros crown would surely add more fuel to that argument.