he is dropping out of top 4.
at the current rate he will be out of top 10.
this is not good. for example he could meet nole at RG now as early as the quarterfinals.
rafa needs all 6 matches at RG before dealing with somebody in the final.
6 matches at RG will get him in some sort of rhythm for the final.
rafa let his fitness and his game go for any number of reasons as I have indicated.
price for that is steep: now he is a sitting duck even for players like verdasco and berdych. he has owned players like these for a decade even through his rough patches because he always had his fitness and his physicality.
he could always stay in the battle long enough to get rid of them.
I have watched his decline in his fitness and physicality(sheer physical strength and his lean muscle mass) for the last 3 years. I knew this would spell trouble down the road.
and this comes at a time when all the others really stepped up their fitness and their work in the gym. even the 7-10 year older ones have overcome their injuries and their trials and tribulations and are working 10 times harder than they ever have.
so the net effect is quite significant.