FeliWatch ... :(

Feli, Feli, Feli ... what are we to do with you?

You could see it coming, couldn't you? When he drew Niemenenenenenenen in the first round, I knew he'd do for him. I mean, rankings and seedings aside, Feli should have won this, but I'm struggling hard now to remember when Feli DIDN'T go out of a tournament in the first round this year. This is a disaster for him.

Why can't he win tie-breaks? He was undone by one in the first set, but broke in the second and it was enough to see him through. When the third went to another breaker and Feli lost it, I thought uh-oh ... and so it was to be. He was broken in the fourth and the rain delay didn't save him either. This is a terrible one to go out early at as Feli is defending a quarter-final place and it wouldn't surprise me to see him tumbling in the rankings.

But why? What is it, Feli? I mean, after a disastrous start to 2011, he employed Alberto Berasategui after Monte Carlo ... and everything started going upwards for him. A final in the Serbian Open, quarters at Wimbledon, was it Rafa who put him out of the US Open? and he finished the year back in the top 20 which he hadn't done since God knows when? The he did well at the Australian Open and hit #No 15, and then its been nothing other than first round defeats.

What needs to happen, Feli? A change of coach? Is it worth it? I mean, he's 31 this year and I'm sure he wants to continue again next season, but how does he push on from this? The Davis Cup is over for him, what is there?

Such a shame really. I mean, he should have got his ass into gear at a much younger age because his actual game is one of the loveliest to watch ... really elegant. I feel a bit sorry for him right now, but I've no idea what needs to happen.

And a man this beautiful in his tennis whites (without the headband - loving the look) doesn't deserve to leave our shores so early.  Gutted.