CAMELOT FANTASIES

You said it General. 

I still have hope for #10 at RG this year.  But he has to abandon hard court play.  He's changed his game too much to try and produce on hard courts, and now I think it has confused him. He doesn't seem to know whether to play up near the baseline or back a few meters.  In that last set his forehands were not making it to the service line, just inviting Verdasco to bash away.

I'm going to be even more drastic.  Forget Hard courts for the next 6-7 months.  Rafa should skip Indian Wells and Miami.  I know he likes going to IW to stay with his buddy Larry Ellison, and play golf, but clay is the only solution to get his game solid again.   

Play as much as he can in South America, Quito or Buenos Aires, then Rio and avenge the loss against Fognini - another player Rafa used to own.

Skip IW and Miami.  Get more miles on clay in practice and work on fitness.  Come back fresh in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and be ready for Roland Garros.

Hard court play is just useless now for him. 

And yes, exhos were unnecessary, even if he made a million a match.  He has all the money he needs.  What he doesn't have are the physical tools.

Even the commentators noticed today how big Rafa's shorts looked on his legs and said he's lost a lot of muscle mass from his legs.

Respectfully,
masterclass