Nadal Deserves a Break after Rome

So Rafael Nadal finally lost his second clay court match after 105 consecutive battles; am I the only person who isn't surprised about this?!  Juan Carlos Ferrero is a former French Open champion, he's a veteran, and one of the quickest players in the history of the sport.  There are no excuses in pro tennis, either win or go home, but the fact remains that Rafa is still tired from a grueling Barcelona event, and is suffering from a blister on his right foot.

“Today when I woke up, I said it was impossible to play,” Nadal said. “I spoke to the doctor today and yesterday, and they put special protection on it and cream, but it was still tough.”

I wrote about the flaws in the ATP schedule during the Davis Cup, and will mention it again; players need more of an off season in order to be fully prepared for the intensive summer Grand Slams.  Nadal is already feeling the beating, it's hard to imagine that he'll be able to sustain any sort of physical health after Roland Garros and Wimbledon....even Rafa  agrees:

“The calendar is impossible.” Said the world #2 from Spain.

Here's a piece of advice for Nadal: take a full week off from competition, get the blister totally healed, and get fully focused/recharged for Roland Garros in two weeks.  Winning Hamburg before the French Open means nothing, and Rafa has played enough tennis to be fully grooved for the French; his body needs rest, and that's what this loss to Juan Carlos exhibited.