Rafael Nadal: Keys to Rafa Winning Another Australian Open

If Rafael Nadal can execute the following plan he will win his second Australian Open. Obviously, this is much easier said than done, but rest assured this is not a complicated or unfeasible game plan. 

Rafa is playing fantastic tennis. He has breezed into the quarterfinals with relative ease and appears poised to send a message that he is not ready to be counted out of contention for being the world's No. 1. 

Return Game

Nadal's return game has always been essential to his success. He has a lethal return and can use it as an advantage to get his opponents off balance and break their serve. 

That return game is going to be more important than ever because up next for Nadal is the hard serving Tomas Berdych. 

Rafa will have to be on top of his return game to get some breaks in this match, and Nadal has been returning masterfully. In his last match against Feliciano Lopez, Nadal's returns were the basis for him limiting Lopez to winning just 66 percent of the first serves he got in. 

Stay Healthy

This one goes beyond the realm of what Nadal can control. However, this is probably the most essential factor. 

Injuries derailed his 2011 season and it looked like they were about to destroy his Australian Open. Just prior to this tournament, Nadal injured his knee while sitting in a chair. He was able to play, and play well, through the injury, but this highlights how easily, quickly and unexpectedly Nadal can pick up an injury. 

Staring down the barrel of a daunting list of opponents, Nadal cannot afford any more injuries. He needs to be 100 percent healthy and at the top of his game. 

Wear Out Djokovic

Chances are that if Nadal is going to win this tournament, he will have to beat Novak Djokovic. This is something that came easily for Nadal until last season. 

If he is going to get back to his winning ways against Djokovic he will have to keep him running all over the court. 

Nadal has to dictate the flow of action with Djokovic. He cannot allow Novak to get comfortable. That is when Djokovic begins to pick him apart. 

Rafa is healthy and fit enough to have this match turn into a track meet, and that is where it has to go if he wants to win.