What Rafael Nadal's Loss to Fabio Fognini Means for Australian Open 2016

Rafael Nadal hasn't had the best of seasons by his all-time great standards in 2015. After the Spaniard's loss to Fabio Fognini on Friday at the U.S. Open, Nadal will end the year without a Grand Slam singles title for the first time since 2005. 

The Spaniard took a two-set lead in the round-of-16 tie and looked for all the world as if he'd cruise into the quarter-finals, but three sets on the spin from Fognini ensured his major woes continued. Fognini won 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal has won three ATP singles title this season but has fallen short in the big tournaments, which is where legacies are made and the legends of the game truly distinguish themselves. He entered the U.S. Open draw seeded eighth, on a collision course with Novak Djokovic as early as the quarterfinals.

Djokovic was the man who beat Nadal in the French Open at that stage to deny the latter a shot at his 10th championship at Roland Garros.

Prior to the U.S. Open, Nadal expressed confidence in his fitness and form, eager to generate some momentum toward the end of the 2015 campaign, per the Associated Press, via ABC News:

"

I feel great physically, and that's important for me because that's giving me the confidence in my body that's always been very important (for) the intensity of my movements. If I'm healthy and I have the chance to keep working the way I'm working now, I believe that I can keep competing well for the next couple of years and keep having chances in the big events.

"

And Nadal had reason to look forward to the action in the Big Apple, given his exceptional track record there of late, alluded to by ESPN Tennis:

"

Last time Nadal competed at #USOpen he won (2013) & he's 20-1 in his past three appearances. - http://t.co/Zh80jslpD3 pic.twitter.com/puJyzQYNeG

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) August 29, 2015"

Unfortunately, even if Nadal feels well, his game isn't quite at the level it once was to get the better of Roger Federer more often than not and even topple Djokovic. The days of Nadal ascending to No. 1 in the world appear to have passed.

The Australian Open is next on the Grand Slam slate, in January 2016. Perhaps a bit of rest and the promise of a new year might reinvigorate Nadal. That would allow him to enter the tournament in Melbourne with a clear mind and low expectations, which could lead to a surprise run.

Hard courts are the toughest surface on Nadal's knees, though. Movement without the assist of sliding will only grow more difficult as Nadal continues on in his career, and the fact that he's struggled the past four years on the fast grass of Wimbledon doesn't bode well, either.

The swifter the surface, the harder it is for Nadal to contend. Granted, part of that notion stems from the deserved nickname he's garnered for his French Open dominance as "The King of Clay."

Among Nadal's 14 major singles titles, only one of those has come at the Australian Open. Winning all four Grand Slam events multiple times would be an extraordinary achievement that could further bolster Nadal's standing in tennis lore.

As the opportunities dwindle for Nadal to add majors to his resume, pressure will mount for him to rediscover his game. The likes of Djokovic, Federer, Andy Murray and even Stan Wawrinka aren't showing signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Nadal needs a bounce-back 2016 to reassert himself as a force to be reckoned with. A deep run at the Australian Open would be an ideal start to that effort, though his U.S. Open defeat doesn't inspire a lot of optimism that such a welcome development will occur.