What explains Rafael Nadal’s indifferent start to the 2015 season?

Rafa Nadal hasn’t been at his best so far this season

Every sportsperson goes through a phase where nothing seems to be going their way. Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is going through the same phase at the moment.

It has been a bumpy start to the 2015 season as far as the Spaniard is concerned.

The 2014-2015 season and the injuries

Nadal was on top of his form in the beginning of the season. He won the Qatar Open and looked ruthless looked ruthless throughout the Australian Open in 2014. However in the final, Nadal suffered a back injury which hampered his chances of winning a second major down under.

The injury was not serious,but it had an effect on Nadal’s performance in the tournaments that followed. On the clay courts, which is his preferred surface, the Spaniard lost 3 of the 4 tournaments before the French Open. However, in spite of a mediocre clay court season, he managed to win the Roland Garros title for a record ninth time.

Nadal was again out of action for close to three months due of a wrist injury while practising for the hard court season. He missed the US Open and was unable to recover for the ATP World Tour Finals. Though he managed to play in China Open and Shanghai Open, but lack of fitness and training was easily visible. In the Swiss indoors, Rafa was easily beaten in the straight sets by 17-year-old Borna Coric in the first round.

A few days later, he announced that he was not feeling up to the mark and withdrew from Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour Finals. He underwent stem cell treatment for the back pain and appendix problem.

Struggles this year

Nadal started the 2015 season with the Qatar open, but was knocked out in the opening round. In the Australian Open, he made it to the quarterfinals where Tomas Berdych ended his 17-match losing streak against the Spaniard. Fabio Fognini handed Nadal a defeat at the Rio Open, where he was the defending champion.

Nadal clinched his first title of 2015 season, by winning the Argentina Open. It is the Spaniard’s first title since winning the 2014 French Open.

He lost to Milos Raonic and Fernando Verdasco in Indian Wells and Miami Open respectively.

What explains this inconsistent form from a 14-time Grand Slam champion? The recent struggles have nothing to do with physical injuries.

“The physical problems are in the past. I am in competition. I’m playing weeks in a row. It's not an excuse," Nadal said . "It is a different story today. I am feeling more tired than usual, feeling that I don’t have this self-confidence that when I hit the ball I am going to hit the ball where I want to hit the ball, to go for the ball knowing that my position will be the right one.

"All these are small things that are difficult to explain. One of the tougher things has been fixed, that is the game, in my opinion. Now I need to fix again the nerves, the self-control on court. That’s another issue, Nadal added.

Preparing for the clay season

Nadal posted a video on his facebook page where he is seen preparing on the clay courts. It will be an uphill task for Nadal to successfully defend his French Open title with the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer having a great start to the season.

His first test will be at Monte Carlo, where he is a 8-time champion.

Can Nadal’s form improve during the course of the clay season? Only time will tell.