By the time that Nicolas Almagro’s primal screams, finger wagging, and all but the kitchen sink in celebrations had ended, Rafael Nadal had completed his walk of shame from his side of the court, across the net and to his bag, shaking the hand of Mohamed Lahyani en route without so much as breaking step.

Then they bounced off each other. Nico into Rafa. An Almagro delirious with joy, searching out his foe without noticing him standing right under the artificially curled quiff of his hair. A brief, trademark ATP embrace followed: an awkward half-hug? Check. A timid pat of the other guy? Check. Their conciliation was brief, and before long Almagro had waltzed into the center of the court for a second round of celebrations. This time he refrained from drawing a heart with his fingers, but his joy was transmitted through a loud and aggressive bout of fist-pumping.

What a life Nadal leads, and yet for that brief moment it appeared unbearable. Losing is painful enough, but the price to pay for these losses as a top player downed by a lesser foe, appears all that more painful. All players lose, and most hate losing. But when the majority of opponents react to their victories over you in such a dramatic, public display, it's difficult to comprehend. Not to mention the fact that when Nadal's post-match routine had concluded, he managed barely five steps before he was intercepted by Alex Corretja for an interview. He had not a moment to himself nor a second to breathe.

“I could have won the game. I should have won the game. I should not have lost this game,” Nadal said later. “I do not think I've played worse than him. In Monte Carlo, David was better than me….I'm ready to take the challenge to fight and fight. My goal, my priority, is to remain happy playing.”

Nadal explained that the level at which Almagro performed was expected of him. It was he, said Rafa, whose level had varied, and he couldn't expect to beat a player in this form.

Despite Nadal's honesty, the performance from his countryman rose above his usual level. Although the eight-time champion's usual fighting spirit was nowhere to be seen, the lesser Spaniard dealt well with the pressure piled on him and was bold and brave when the time presented itself. As pressure was expected to destroy him, it was the Spaniard who destroyed the ball with breathtaking backhands in two consecutive points at 5-5 in the second-set tiebreak, or the match-winning forehand winner.

Few people even know how to react. It is a new world, a world in which, for the first time, the Spaniard appears distinctly uneasy on clay. This was not the double losses of 2011 to Novak Djokovic, a moment in which the world stood astonished at those dramatic defeats. Instead, the pair of losses have come at the hands of two men whom he has dominated on the red stuff. If the world No. 1 and King of Clay can't even beat a sub-top-10 player on his surface of choice, then what?

“This is sport,” was his response. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I lost twice in a row, but it is what it is. You have to endure moments that are not so good. There is no drama, and life goes on. This ultimately is a game after all. Everyone goes through times worse and better.”

The fact remains that these matches are happening a long time before Roland Garros. There is little to suggest that Nadal won't strive to improve as he always does. And, as he also always does, there still remains little evidence to suggest that he won't eventually succeed.