HAMBURG - Rafael Nadal heads back to the comfort of clay next week as the struggling Spaniard attempts to resolve the crisis that has gripped his game. The 29-year-old is top seed at the Hamburg Open but his decision to play a European clay tournament with the US hardcourt season just around the corner has baffled many. "It's obvious that the situation is different," said Nadal on Saturday. "I have lost more (this year) than in the last 10 or 11 years." In a testing 2015, Nadal has seen his world ranking slump to 10 -- his lowest in a decade -- and lose his French Open title where he had been champion nine times. He has already been defeated 12 times this year, including just a second career loss at Roland Garros and a second round exit to German journeyman Dustin Brown at Wimbledon.