He is lagging technique... He cannot change his style... Today's tennis is more for return of serve and winners rather then just rallying and loose shots... and its not possible for him... my opinion

Rafa says that about every opponent. I do hope he pulls through. With H2H of 14-2, I'm pretty sure Rafa's got this. One match at a time baby. Vamos my favorite butt picker y fuerza!! ☺☺

It's over, not only the match.... Nadal!!!

Nadal is done

I have to say if rafa does exit roland garros so early his career is over.

Stupid rafa

Lowest point of Nadals career

I thought rafa got his confidence back??? Goes to prove that there is more to just the dwindling confidence levels plaguing his game. Personally, l am convinced that the following are facts he needs to swallow:
1. Work on the serve and return of serve, if these are still achievable.
2. Hire a good technician coach to help him execute the tweaks badly needed for his game to stand the test of today's tennis.
3. Accept that he's running out of time and decide what he really want more from still playing.
4. Perhaps he should take a cue from his contemporaries by considering getting engaged, married and having kids. You never know, this might be what's just needed to balance his life and make a happier and more innovative competitor of him.
5. He must accept Novak's supremacy, which won't be changing anytime soon, unless off course he does things differently.

I rest my case!

Nadal ate the bullet hard this time!! He need's a psychiatrist to help him recover mentally after this game.

Harsh 1st round

Hey, hey, heyyyy ESPN!!! Put it back on Nadasco!!

Rafa can still play long matches. Just because he's not as aggressive as he used to be doesn't mean he can't last long. Besides Nando is older than Rafa.

His uncle is so selfish not to encourage adding another mind to the team.....it doesn't even make sense.....who the f is this guy anyway....he seems more of a dictator from a beach resort than a coach!!!

After djokovic anailated nadal in Doha, he got no confidence left. Bye nadal

Its always sad to watch rafa lose, except against RF

After this match Rafa should take immediate retirement from tennis and enjoy life with past great memories, if he want some respect from tennis fans. whose love and ideal for tennis.

He is not at all tuff opponent for Rafa now, Rafa is in very good now, healthy,

Potential upset here, even Rafa said will be tough opening match

Your Djoker will one day too have his doomsday. Let's see if you're still around supporting him when he's down and out.

If Agassi get in to his team than Rafa's return of serve will improve drastically,since Agassi was the best returner of serve in his time & overall this will improve Rafa's game & which is now needed badly

Novak will reach final.... he is invincible at the moment and Federer already lost twice to him on the big stage last year.... and to ask play Federer to play at that level at this age is to much to ask.

THIS IS SO DAMN AWESOME!!!'

This is a contender for best match 2016, and its only Day 2 of Aussie Open.

(Hyperbole, but still sort of true)

Bye bye rafa & rafans ;) :P

Now I'm supporting stan all the way

Fu ck sake. I'm retiring from watching tennis now

Quite sure Rafa can beat him

I prefer him over nadal. Plus, Verdasco is handsome :).
Verdasco has some fans too!

I like Verdasco too.
When he's not playing Nadal. :D

Yay, they're walking out on the court. ☺