Has Rafael Nadal Regained His Fighting Spirit?

Rafael Nadal got angry this week. Then his game got better.

Perhaps fueled by doping accusations, Nadal appeared to find his fighting spirit in the desert.  

In back-to-back matches at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California, Nadal fought to pull off victories. He saved a match point against Alexander Zverev to win 6-7(8), 6-0, 7-5. He also fought off several set points to close out compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 7-6(9) in the third round. 

The fist-pumping, roaring Nadal seen at Indian Wells looked nothing like the listless player who fell to Verdasco in the first round of the Australian Open. 

Nadal showed even more resolve against Zverev. Down 2-5 in the third set, Nadal turned up the heat on the teenager, pouncing on everything the kid hit short. He took over rallies that began in Zverev's favor. He kept the scoreboard pressure on until the teen cracked. Nadal won 15 of the last 16 points. 

"For the final dizzying half hour, Nadal reminded all why he's one of the fiercest fighters in the game," wrote Richard Pagliaro for Tennis Now. 

Yes, the feisty, fierce Rafa returned. The Spaniard started strutting around the court like the 14-time Grand Slam winner he is. 

In an interview with the ATP World Tour staff, Nadal acknowledge that he brought a different attitude to the court: "I am especially happy about the mentality on court, the spirit of fight during the whole match, believing that I can win a match during the whole time even in the tougher situations."

During the match, Nadal was warned for using an audible obscenity. As noted by BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Law (h/t Newsweek reporter Teddy Cutler), Nadal believed it was the first time in his career that he'd receive such a warning.

Who's that? Feisty, fierce and newly foul Nadal, giving attitude all over the place. 

Earlier in the week, Nadal threatened to sue the French minister of health, Roselyne Bachelot, after she accused him of doping during an interview on a French television show. 

What a difference a month makes. Last month, after his first-round exit at the Aussie Open, Nadal looked like he was headed to an early retirement. He lost in the semifinals in two small clay-court tournaments. 

Chris Chase of Fox Sports wrote that the biggest surprise about the once dominant clay-court player losing matches on the surface was that it wasn't surprising: "There was no shock. There was no awe. As recently as two years ago this would have brought the equivalent of 'Man on Moon' headlines in the tennis world. Now it was like the fourth-most interesting thing to happen this weekend."

Not everyone saw the curtain closing on Nadal's career. Shortly after the clay-court losses, Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim cautioned readers to hold off on writing off Nadal. 

"

The good news about tennis: decline is seldom irreversible. Confidence and aura can return quite easily. It only takes seven matches in a two-week window to completely reframe your career. ... Nadal is not yet 30. His body, improbably, is holding up. Nadal may never win a 15th major. But I don't see how you flatly write off a player of his caliber.

"

Nadal needed just two matches to change the narrative about his demise. Of course, he faces a tough challenge against the speedy Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinal, who can run a man ragged with the way he covers the court.

But it's clear Nadal is no longer down and out. Maybe he never lost the fire. Instead, it simmered on low just waiting for something to fuel the flames. 

Perhaps being forced to defend his reputation reignited his confidence. Maybe exacting revenge against Verdasco fueled Nadal's fire. Whatever the reason, the feisty, fighting Nadal is back.  

But for how long? Has the fight returned for good, or is this merely a flicker before the final flame out?