Spaniard upbeat after flirting with worst Slam effort of career

Rafael Nadal did not look for excuses after a limp Australian Open exit to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals on Tuesday - one of the worst Grand Slam performances in the Spaniard's long career.

The world No 3 crashed out 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5) against the Czech seventh seed he had beaten the last 17 times they met.