There is a new look to Rafael Nadal this year. A worrying look. Well, worrying if you happen to be in his section of the draw. Not only is the best player on the planet sporting a new sartorial style, but he is looking like a man on a mission, and whistled past Roko Karanusic 6-2 6-3 6-2 on Thursday to reach the third round.
The world has become accustomed to seeing Nadal mopping up clay court titles and making the French Open his very own, but of late the Spaniard has been branching out. Not only did he break Roger Federer's heart by beating the Swiss in the Wimbledon final, but he also ended 2008 as the best hard court player in the world. Of his 82 wins for the season, 46 of them came on the cement surface. This was indeed a break from the norm.
Coming to Australia, Nadal is looking good. Usually he takes his time to warm up as the new season begins and so far, he has never made it beyond the semifinals in Melbourne – and he has only got that far once in four attempts. This year, though, he has dropped a meagre 11 games in his first two matches and has barely had to get out of third gear to get this far.
So convincing have been his victories that his attire is getting more attention than his tennis. After years of showing off his impressive muscles with a sleeveless shirt while hiding his shapely pins in pirate pants, the man from Manacor is adopting a more traditional look this year, one more in keeping with his new position as the world's No. 1.
This year, Nadal is wearing a demure t-shirt top - one with sleeves, - but to compensate for the upper-body cover up, he is now sporting shorter shorts that reveal just enough well-honed thigh to keep the female half of the crowd interested.
This change of look was not without its problems. After years of playing in a singlet, Rafa simply could not get used to playing with sleeves – and a chap does not like to feel restricted when he is facing the best players in the world. He was supposed to wear the new outfit for the first time at last year's US Open, but Nadal was still not happy. He was scheduled to wear the new kit at the Madrid Masters, but still Nadal did not feel right. And just to make matters worse, the world No. 1 is one of the most superstitious players on the circuit, and not easily disposed to trying anything new while he is on a winning run.
"For sure, when you have a change, some people like, other people don't like," Nadal explained. "For sure with the sleeveless, not everybody like the sleeveless. But, anyway, is a change. But I feel good like this. Important thing in the end is not the clothes; is the ball and racquet and play well."
Nadal seems to have the racquet and ball bit sewn up nicely, but he will need to be at his best if he is to live up to his seeding. After a fairly straightforward start to the tournament, he now faces Tommy Haas, the former world No. 2 and a man who, had it not been for a succession of serious and long-term injuries, would have won a good deal more than his 11 tournament titles. The German thrashed Flavio Cipolla 6-1 6-2 6-1 on Thursday to set up his meeting with the Spaniard.
"Is going to be the first big opponent, I think," Nadal said of Haas. "I think he's a very complete player. He can play slice, good backhand, good forehand. He can go to the volley. He have a good serve. No, he can do everything. If I want to win, I have to put more rhythm and intensity than him.
“Right now, well, going to be a very good test for see how I am. I going to have to play very well if I want have chances to win, no? I think he won today very easy. So when one player win easy, is good news. Seems he's playing well. I have to play well if I want to win."
Fortunately for Nadal, he is already playing well, and as the nerves of the big names are stretched to breaking point – Messrs Federer and Djokovic seem to have been in a tetchy mood this week – Nadal is just getting on with business. The look may be new, but underneath it is still the same old Rafa.
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