Opinion | Right Field: Rafael Nadal's mental fragility a shock
Player who has so often imposed his will on rivals now admits to nerves, and is starting almost to look troubled by OCD
Professional athletes are guarded by design. There is only so much the general public needs to know, which is why most sporting interviews are inane and boring. For the sake of survival, they have to be.
However, no one has ever accused Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal of being inane and boring. He has long been refreshingly honest and candid both on and off the court. As one of the most dominant and confident players in the history of the game, Nadal's legacy has been cemented by his indomitable will.
Although physically gifted, his mind has always been his greatest asset and any opponent knows before the match begins that in a battle of nerves they will always finish second to Rafa. At least that is what they knew in the past.
The 2015 version of Nadal is admittedly much more human than ever before. Injuries have been piling up for the 28-year-old in the past few years - ankle, knee, back, shoulder and wrist - and as he came into this season he was looking for a return to the type of form that has seen him win 14 grand slam championships, second only to Roger Federer's 17.
The 2015 version of Nadal is admittedly much more human than ever before
Early returns have not been particularly favourable for Nadal, who has won only once in seven starts on the clay courts this season. At the Argentina Open, he did not face an opponent ranked higher than 59th in the world.