Is it time for Rafael Nadal to evolve?

Rafael Nadal addresses a press conference after his loss to Dustin Brown in the second round at Wimbledon

Rafa Nadal has suffered yet another early loss at Wimbledon, continuing his wobbly 2015 season. His second round loss to Brown meant he has not qualified for the quarter finals stage of Wimbledon for four years now. Yes, it has been four years now! Is it time for Nadal to change something?

Rafa Nadal is a very unique character. His idiosyncracies on the court, the rituals he has to do before every point, and his general demeanour on court often display his need for routine or familiar patterns to feel comfortable.

Nadal has often talked about the importance of continuity for him. He has said in the past that he cannot even think of removing anyone from his coaching team. While it shows his humanity, one has to question how logical it is in the face of a dynamic and fast changing sport like tennis.

McEnroe hints at a new coach

Tennis legend John McEnroe commented after Nadal’s second round loss:

"I know that he has had other people like Carlos Costa and they have tried to gently persuade Uncle Toni [to change]. He has done a magnificent job since he was a little kid and told him it was a good thing to go left-handed - but clearly at this stage it would appear that some fresh ideas would be in order."

After being told he was being diplomatic by co-presenter Tim Henman, McEnroe replied: "I'm saying get a new damn coach!"

Nadal only needs to look at his biggest rivals for the way they have brought about big changes in their games and have adapted to become better players.

Roger Federer hired Stefan Edberg last year and adapted to playing a fast game, attacking more and improving his volleying skills. He has had a great 2015 season so far and is World no.2 at the moment. He plays his second successive Wimbledon final on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic added Boris Becker to his team, and his serve and volleys have improved as a result over the last year. He has won two Grand Slam titles in last year and a half, and has won around 10 Masters 1000 titles in the same period. He plays his third consecutive Wimbledon final on Sunday.

Nadal should focus on new strategies

While his top competitors prepare for the biggest prize in tennis, Nadal is out catching fish on some unknown Mallorca beach. While fishing is a good hobby to pursue, Nadal will have enough time after his retirement to work on it!

Right now he should be thinking deep and hard about his tennis, and the changes he needs to make to become a force again. Professional coaching will help. Adding someone like an Agassi or McNroe to his team will only help his tennis. They can bring new dimensions to Nadal’s already potent skill set and make him relevant again.

He needs to adapt his game to today’s realities, and the reality is Nadal can no longer depend upon his speed to chase down one extra ball. He needs to be more aggressive now, and use his mighty forehand to create easy points. Taking helping of a mental conditioning expert won’t be a bad idea too, as Nadal has looked vulnerable for a long time now.

Taking a proactive call and making these additions to his team will help Nadal recover the competitive edge he has lost in the last year. Change is necessary and inevitable now. Else, we might already have seen the best of Rafa.