Rafael Nadal at the 2015 Australian Open Players’ Party. Sadly, his game is thinning along with his hair. Photograph courtesy Tourism Victoria

As the story of tennis match-fixing continued to swirl Down Under – check out the Daily News’ back page – there was another shocker – Rafa’s out.

Rafael Nadal went down to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 3-6 7-6 (4-7) 6-2 in a four-hour, 40-minute first-round match at the Australian Open. Reportedly, it was a thriller but whom are we kidding? We’re a long way from the days when Rafa would blow Verdasco off the court.

Is it mental? Physical? A failure to shake up the coaching team? All of these? None?

It’s disheartening, particularly when you think of his great rivalry with Novak Djokovic and their epic Aussie final four years ago. That now seems like a long time ago. Here’s hoping Rafa can get his mojo back.

As for the match-fixing and the speculation that a Slam winner from the last 10 years was involved – hence the lineup of tennis’ Who’s Who on the back page of the News – I say serve or get off the court. Name names or cease and desist until you do.

Gee, maybe it was Col. Mustard in the Conservatory with the Candlestick.