Rafael Nadal has conceded that he is unable to produce his best tennis as his battle to find top form continues in Rome this week.
The Spaniard dropped out of the world's top five for the first time in 10 years after losing the Madrid Masters final to Andy Murray at the weekend, and he refuses to make excuses for his apparent decline.
"Obviously today I'm not as good as I was," he told reporters. "Life has been fantastic with me. Today I'm not winning as much as I did in the past. Life continues."
Despite usually dominating on clay, the 28-year-old has already lost four times on the surface this year, but he insists that he has not considered parting company with Toni Nadal, his coach and uncle.
"It's not only my decision. That's a decision of two people, not only one. Don't forget that Toni is more my uncle than my coach," he added.
"If in any moment of my career I change some member of my team, it will not be because I am losing or winning. It will be because there is not enough motivation for one another."
Nadal meets Marsel Ilhan in the Rome Masters on Wednesday after receiving a first-round bye.
Callum Mulvihill
