Rafael Nadal in Catch-22 Situation With Uncle Toni

Rafael Nadal, two-time Wimbledon champion, 14-time Grand Slam winner and long-time world number one, has been vanquished again. The Spaniard was ousted from the Wimbledon for the fourth successive time after losing to the dreadlocked Dustin Brown, his fourth such defeat at the All England Club to a player ranked 100 and lower. (Rafael Nadal Fears his Best Wimbledon Days May be Over)

This upset was followed by quarter-final exits at the Australian Open and more surprisingly at Roland Garros, where he lifted the championship for a record nine times. Time for some introspection then. (All Over for Nadal?)

As has often been the case in such scenarios, the first casualty appears to be the coach. Nadal's though is no ordinary one. His uncle Toni Nadal took charge of a young Rafa and took him to scary heights. Nadal became an all-conquering machine on tennis courts all around the world and started to dominate the best in the business. His powerful left-handed volleys and crisp serves were an instant hit with players and fans around the world. (Nadal Crashes to New Wimbledon Low)

Wimbledon champions in 2008 and 2010 and runner-up in 2006, 2007 and 2011, the 29-year-old Nadal has by all accounts had a rough year. He slipped to no. 10 in the world and his steep downfall has no signs of ebbing yet. But is a new coach the solution? US legend John McEnroe feels Nadal would need to severe his ties with Toni, who has been Nadal's coach for several years now. His argument? Some fresh blood could help the Spanish giant overcome obvious technical deficiencies. (Nadal Vows to Carry on)

But it is not like a change of coaches has always worked wonders. A point in reference is the Indian cricket team. Plagued for years over their performances in foreign conditions, the richest cricket board in the world decided to hire foreign coaches. Some paid off - John Wright and Gary Kirsten were sensationally successful while Greg Chappell and Duncan Fletcher failed to meet their goals. Of course, Toni's association with Nadal has different dimensions. Tennis is an individual sport unlike cricket and Toni has family connections unlike those cricket coaches.

Nadal, who has been at an all-time career low, though has played it cool. He admitted he does not see himself getting back to the levels of his sensation Wimbledon run from 2006 to 2011. One of his closest rivals in recent times, Novak Djokovic even said Nadal should persist with Toni and see where that takes him. Fourteen Grand Slams is no mean achievement. In his own words, the latest Wimbledon exit is a "sad moment"

Djokovic reckon any move to get rid of Uncle Toni as coach could backfire on Nadal. If he fails to win the US Open, Rafa would have had the first Slam less year in a decade. The biggest challenge for both nephew and uncle to see where the next few months take them.