Top 3 things Rafael Nadal must do to win a Grand Slam in 2016

A change of coach. A complete revamp of his game. The suggestions of remedy for Rafa Nadal’s poor 2015 form have rolled in thick and fast. But here are the 3 key things that the former world no. 1 must do to win a Grand Slam in 2016.

Get back the confidence (and therefore win the big points)

Rafael Nadal, ever honest and always genuine, made no secret of the fact that nerves have been disturbing the progress of his game this year. His 2014 season wrecked by injury, the man who was once the most mentally efficient on tour has struggled for confidence. It’s seen him lose plenty of matches that he could — and should — have won.

While it was earlier in the season that the Spaniard confessed to this issue, it has still been evident in recent times. True, he has come up against tough opposition on many occasions. But the few break points he has converted — and the times he himself has been broken — show, among other statistics, that there’s still a long way to go.

Confidence is more than what you say, but it’s rarely more than how you play. From his wealth of achievements, Nadal must latch onto something that will give him self belief. Self belief that will translate his present flashes of brilliance to the big moments.

Strike deep and narrow the margin

When it comes to Rafael Nadal, everything really stems from the above point. It is surely tightness and nerves that produce a shallow shot and shy forehands away from the lines, or even hook them well wide.

But that doesn’t change what he needs to do. Rafa’s topspin-heavy shots simply cannot inflict enough damage if they are dropped either within, or barely over, the service line. From here, opposition can crack down from the height of the bounce and immediately seize the advantage, putting the 29-year-old on the run.

Can Rafa do defence? Absolutely. We’ve seen it from him plenty of times. The scrambling winners, the off-court pass, the ridiculous banana shot.

But can he pull these stunners off consistently enough to rise victorious? In short, no. That’s why the likes of trick-shot queen Agnieszka Radwanska and counter-puncher David Ferrer have never claimed Grand Slam glory. While their styles can see them through some, it cannot see them through all. it wears them out, and becomes ineffective.

By nature, Rafael Nadal is not a defensive player. And to be aggressive, his spinning, kicking game needs to rain deep and kiss the lines. Or else.

Re-discover his love for clay

Last season was not Nadal’s best for clay performance. He may have picked up an incredible ninth French Open title, but this massive victory overshadowed a clay-court season in which he won just one pre-Roland Garros crown: the Madrid Masters, via Kei Nishikori’s retirement in the final.

This year, after struggles that began in January, the arrival of his preferred surface should have delighted the renowned King Of Clay, and summoned up one of his fantastic comebacks — alike to his infamous 2013 resurgence.

However, curiously, the Majorcan seemed to view this year’s arrival of the dirt not as a sanctuary, but as an amphitheatre of pressure and expectation. And this year, not only did he fail to win a pre-Paris event for the first time in 10 years, but he also failed to retain his own, personal French Open crown.

As it happens, the Spaniard’s most recent tournament triumph came on clay. Post Wimbledon, at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg, the world no. 7 ensured that he would not pass by the surface completely win-less. And that could aid him for next year.

The comeback could launch anywhere. But currently, red clay would best suit his style and shots. This being so, Roland Garros is his best shot at Grand Slam triumph.

And can he win it? If he embraces the moment and the situation, then absolutely.