Rafael Nadal: Why Spaniard Won't Get Revenge on Djokovic in Australia

Many people look at Rafael Nadal's 2011 season and call it a down year. But was it really?

In essence, Nadal really only succumbed to one man in the world:

Novak Djokovic.

Sure, Andy Murray knocked off Nadal in the Australian Open, but it was Djokovic who constantly bested Nadal when the Spaniard was seemingly playing his best.

It was Djokovic who became Nadal's arch-rival. And it's Djokovic who Nadal will have to beat to prove that he's "back."

Unfortunately for Nadal, that won't happen in Australia.

In the last couple of years, the Spaniard has easily been at his worst on these hard courts. He has lost to Murray in the quarters two years in a row, and has "only" won the title once.

He will have trouble erasing his recent struggles. 

Meanwhile, Djokovic is the clear No. 1 in the world. He seems to have figured Nadal out, and that was highlighted by Djoker's three Grand Slam wins last season. 

Djoker is all that stands between Nadal and the No. 1 spot, but that is simply a task too tall for Nadal to overcome right now.

"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."

Yikes.

It's important not to fully buy into players' quotes, but if Nadal doesn't truly believe he'll win in Australia, neither do I. 

He just seems physically exhausted after a long year, and beating Djokovic is unfortunately the only way he will fully get back on track.

That's not going to happen in Australia.

But then comes the French Open, and that's a different story.