As the warning signs of Rafael Nadal's demise on clay grow, the nine-time French Open champion allowed his pride to show in the face of adversity.
Nadal dropped to No. 7 in the world rankings -- for the first time since May of 2005 -- after losing in the finals of the Madrid Open to Andy Murray, marking a once-unfathomable fourth loss on clay this year.
Rafael Nadal loss to Andy Murray in Madrid a sign that his French Open reign will end?
Tennis pundits, including Sports World News, have chronicled Rafael Nadal's struggles in 2015 and have questioned whether Nadal has enough game to win a 10th French Open championship and sixth straight.
He enters the Italian Open having to defend 600 points from reaching the finals in 2014. According to tennis.com, if he loses in the first round in Rome and Roland Garros, he will drop out of the Top 10.
Rafael Nadal ditches racket three weeks before the French Open
It's unlikely that would happen, even with Nadal's struggles. He became very protective of his record, however, when discussing his drop from the top four.
"It's also something that we have to realize, all of us, that what's happening during these last years, it's very complicated to be 10 or 11 years without leaving the Top 4," Nadal said. "It's something very, very complicated, especially with a ranking that lasts only one year. And especially being injured as I have been. Whenever I have been playing I have been winning, and that's the truth."
Nadal did miss much of the second half of 2014 with multiple injuries, but the facts are that if he had just played like his former dominant self on clay this season, he would still be in the top four.
And he wouldn't be trying to figure out what he needs to do this week to stay in the top eight - and avoid dropping to eighth in the world or lower, where he conceivably could face No. 1 Novak Djokovic as early as the fourth round or quarterfinals.
"I'm defending 600 points [in Rome]," Nadal said. "If I don't manage to win points, I don't know where I can end up falling to. I'm talking about not leaving the Top 8. I don't know what is the result I need to do in Rome to stay in the Top 8, which in this case would really affect Roland Garros."
Will your faith in Rafael Nadal's chances of winning the French Open be restored if he wins the Italian Open this week? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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