"Always a reason"...

(Photo: REUTERS/Vincent Kessler)

A couple of months back in Miami, after an uncharacteristic loss to Juan del Potro, Nadal made the following comment:

"Always is a reason because you are not playing at your level during the tournament. No, I am calm. I am happy about myself, about everything this year, yeah … I don't know. Always is a reason, but it's personal."

Like many, I wasn't sure what to make of it.

Right now, such sensitive matters are on the mind of Nadal, at home in Majorca. For many weeks there have been whispers that all was not uncomplicated in the Nadal household, that his parents, Sebastian and Ana María, who hugged their son on the most joyous day of his life a year ago, had separated. Yesterday, we discovered that that was, in fact, the case, that Nadal had been playing in such a fog for the past couple of months, he should have been wearing luminous clothing. He is crushed and any fair-minded person has to be crushed for him.

Imagine what it has been like, trying to do your duty by yourself, your team and your profession and yet having to perform when your heart is elsewhere, the distressing nightly calls home, the wish that it were not so, the desire for a reconciliation. Nadal never mentioned it, he played and hoped. He talked about resetting his body after having to withdraw from the championships with problem knees and yet he has a more difficult task, resetting his entire life. We wish him well.

(Source: The Times)

"Rest and recovery" might be more than just a physical endeavour. Hope he takes all the time he needs.