Australian Open 2011: An Aussie Open Title over Djokovic a Must for Rafael Nadal

The No.2 ranked Spanish sensation, Rafael Nadal, took a mental and physical beating in the 2011 season.

Injury ridden and mentally worn after losing the No. 1 rank in the world to Novak Djokovic, it seems as if Nadal has lost a step in his game as of late as well as his confidence in his abilities.

According to an article from ESPN.com, Nadal told ESPN he isn't even sure if he will be able to win the 2012 Australian Open.

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"I see myself capable of having a good tournament but you never know," Nadal said. "I am happy with the level of my game, of how I am doing things and I think I am sowing seeds that will bear fruit. But maybe not in Australia."

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Talk about a statement. No matter how tough the going gets, considering the possibility of not winning a tournament before it has even took place is not what a competitor says in hoping to make a strong comeback in the new year.

Undoubtedly this is a player being realistic based on his 2011 season, which featured a lingering injury to his ankle and a sore shoulder at times. He looked, at times, physically incapable of beating opponents.

After winning at least five singles titles in each of his years as a pro, Nadal's total dropped to just three in the 2011 season. After winning a total of four grand slam titles in 2009 and 2010, Nadal would only take home the French Open in 2011 despite playing in three of the four finals.

Yet make no mistake about it, at age 25 he can and will make a push to regain his No. 1 spot in the world and has every bit of talent in his game to do so. 

What many forget is that despite Nadal's so-called drop in his game, he was still a finalist in two of the four grand slams and was the winner of the French Open. What makes this Australian Open tournament a must-win is not the fact that Nadal has been struggling, it's the fact he has struggled to take down tennis phenom Novak Djokovic.

With a shot at Djokovic in January of this season, Nadal must take full advantage of the moment and cool off Djokovic before he gets any hotter. Djokovic took home three Grand Slam wins in 2011, two of which featured wins over Nadal in the final.

It is apparent that Djokovic has all the confidence he needs and more, while Nadal seems unable to gain the confidence and strength to overcome Djokovic and get a victory. 

With Roger Federer keeping pace and Andy Murray inching closer to his first Grand Slam, Nadal knows that taking down Djokovic is all the more necessary.

Is Nadal capable of winning a Grand Slam at the 2012 Aussie Open and taking down Djokovic? Absolutely. There is no question about it.

Yet with time, Murray will only grow stronger as well as Djokovic, as Nadal knows he must win sooner than later.