The sight of a stricken Rafael Nadal being finished off by fellow Spaniard David Fedrrer at the Australian Open on Wednesday was a stark reminder of the precipice he walks in search of sporting perfection.

Just three games into the contest, it was clear something had broken in the 24-year-old's highly-tuned body, depriving him of the athleticism and explosive power that had pushed him to the brink of completing one of the sport's rarest and most treasured collections. Nadal, however, remained sanguine despite the obvious disappointment of his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 defeat, saying there was no cause to hit the panic button.

Published Date : Thursday, 27/1/2011 3:51 PM IST