This coming Monday marks the start of the 2015 US Open Series.  The following five weeks are sure to feature plenty of exciting tennis as players look to hone their hard-court skills in an attempt to be at their best when they arrive in New York.  They all utilize various methods of preparation for the year's final major, but it could be argued that Rafael Nadal is taking the most unorthodox approach.  For the first time in seven years, he will compete next week on the red clay of Hamburg in a decision he hopes will help him regain some confidence and momentum before heading to the hard courts of North America.

With two titles under his belt this season and a top-10 ranking, a number of Nadal's fellow competitors would gladly switch places with him.  But with the high bar that he has set for himself over the course of his career, there is no doubt that 2015 has been a huge disappointment for the Spaniard.  His year has been marred by inconsistencies and nervy performances.  He failed to win a single European clay title in the spring and endured another shocking premature loss at Wimbledon.  And, as a man who has spent the better part of the last decade ranked within the uppermost echelons of the sport, his current ranking of No. 10 is well below where he is used to residing.

As dismal as his 2015 has been, however, Nadal has reason to feel some semblance of optimism heading into the coming weeks.  For one thing, the hard courts tend to favor the other members of the Big Four, so this is typically a point in the season in which there are fewer expectations for Nadal.  The former No. 1 has never been overly comfortable being labeled a favorite on any surface, so flying a bit under the radar should allow him to swing away more freely.  Additionally, due to health issues in 2014, he did not play a single match after Wimbledon until late September.  That means that he does not have the pressure of having to defend points between now and the US Open and instead has a golden opportunity to gain ground.  Furthermore, despite not being the top favorite on the hard courts, this is a stretch on the tour calendar where Nadal has performed well.  He has won titles in both Canada and Cincinnati and is a two-time US Open Champion, so he knows he is capable of making the most of his current situation. 

In order to capitalize on the situation, though, it is imperative that Nadal has a good showing on the clay of Hamburg next week.  His confidence and aura of invincibility have taken big hits this season.  Many players already feel that they have a crack at Nadal on a hard court, but when he starts looking vulnerable on his beloved clay, they are going to like their chances of reaping an upset even better.  Nadal has also publicly admitted to feeling nervous and lacking in self-belief at present, and it is hard to imagine him feeling optimistic about logging good results on the hard courts if he cannot get the job done on clay. 

As a general rule, one match or one tournament does not make or break a player's season.  It is never a good idea to prematurely write off a great champion, either.  But there can be no doubt Nadal's career is at its lowest point in a decade.  Questions are being asked – some by the man himself -  as to where his place in the sport will be in the future.  Skepticism regarding whether he can perform at his best when he needs to most are increasing daily, as are the doubts about his ability to win another Grand Slam.  Nadal could go a long way towards quieting those doubts, including those inside his own head, by putting together a strong run in Hamburg to put himself in a more favorable position to taste success during the summer hard-court season.