Wimbledon 2013: Five reasons why Nadal lost his first round clash to Darcis

3. Lack of Preparation

Post that record clinching 8th crown at the French Open, Rafa went home to Spain and spent the time in between the two Slams recuperating and training. He was due to play at Halle, but chose to skip it instead and the lack of preparation was evident.

Moving from clay to grass is not at all easy if you are not acclimatised. The ball bounces higher on clay, it keeps low on grass; it slows off the court on clay, it zips through the court on grass.

Nadal said as much in his post match presser, “The opponent played well. I had my chances. I didn’t make it. So in grass is difficult to adapt yourself, to adapt your game. When you don’t have the chance to play before, I didn’t have that chance this year, is tougher. I didn’t find my rhythm.”

And that corroborates to the above point on how the match was close and that Nadal did indeed have good chances to seize the initiative in the early sets.