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I'm a huge Roger Federer fan, but its clear at this point that Rafael Nadal dethroned him from atop the tennis world. But until I read this superb article from Sports Illustrated, I did not appreciate the methodical, yet obsessive way in which Nadal improved his game specifically to combat Federer's strengths and expose his weaknesses. And what's even more enthralling, or confusing, is how Federer has just not responded to this new challenge by switching his game up:

This attitude perplexes even Federer's staunchest admirers. Former players, coaches, peers: They all accept that his talent is, as Wilander says, "crazy," but his passive response to Nadal goes against what they've been taught a superstar does when he's down. Muhammad Ali came up with rope-a-dope, an aging Michael Jordan perfected the fadeaway jumper: The great ones adjust, sending a signal not only to their rivals but also to all the newly emboldened. It's no shock that following Nadal's trail, No. 3 Andy Murray has won six of his last seven matches against Federer, and No. 4 Novak Djokovic has won three of their last five. "What makes me scratch my head," Courier says, "is how Roger doesn't shift."

It's disappointing to see Federer stubbornly stick to a skill set that no longer allows him to dominate his opponents, when he clearly has both the mental acuity and physical talents to rise to the challenge. Let's hope he stops thinking his fall from grace is a fluke, gets a real coach, re-invents himself, and then we can home for some real excitement this summer and fall.