That may be the least of his worries. Some others that may take precedence are:
28 freaking unforced errors when Nadal usually averages around 13 per match. With just 20 winners he is in the red by 8.
9 freaking break point opportunities offered.
That’s against some 18-year-old kid who was serving at 50 freaking percent suggesting the match was ‘won’ on the court with rallies.
Anytime you suggest the ‘time on court’ in Nadal’s case is not the top worry you have got to wonder what’s going on. Granted this is the opening round but that excuse will work far better for someone like Federer who is not coming in with a three 1000 title momentum. Without getting carried away with just one first round ‘win’, you cannot resist the temptation to raise the fatigue flag given Nadal’s track record.
If you compare the lack lustre year he is just coming off of to what he has been doing lately on clay, his physical fitness cannot be ruled out as a massive clog in the wheel. You cannot miss his movement on the court today that allows him to rule. Without it even the most tomato cannish clown suddenly begins to appear GOAT-like against him. While lady Mina didn’t really don that suit she did come pretty close considering her credentials.
Good part for Nadal was his ability, even on his off day, to not let his opponent go past two games a piece for three sets. Despite all the other stats, this one still keeps him firmly implanted in the driver’s seat. Nadal’s next three matches are so tame – Hezbollah, Hewitt and Ljubicic – that he should be able to revert to his bagel and bread stick routine soon enough to continue beating his more seasoned opponents in later rounds, even before he meets them on the court, if it’s not already been done, that is.
But you cannot ignore the ‘time on court’ stat for Nadal going forward. Of the three contenders, Federer has clocked 1:48, Nadal 2:25 and Djokovic (lost one set – 4 sets) 2:08 after one match a piece. Even though Nadal’s numbers are traditionally inflated due to the extra time he takes between points there’s still that invisible ‘set in stone’ line he cannot cross without hampering his chances of winning the title. Quarterfinal and beyond line up of Verdasco, Djokovic and Federer will demand his best if not his super best.
