By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
British representation in the Wimbledon singles was down to the usual two names by Wednesday afternoon as Lee Childs went out in the second round.
And the familiar tale of underachievement was put in sharper perspective by the player who beat the British number 11.
Rafael Nadal is just 17 and is the latest sensation of the men's tour.
At 16 he beat fellow Spaniards Albert Costa and Carlos Moya in successive Masters Series tournaments in the Spring and burst into the world's top 100.
And after injury kept him out of the French Open, he arrived at the unfamiliar grass courts of SW19 for his first taste of Grand Slam tennis.
Nadal sends Childs out.
Beating the highly-rated Mario Ancic in the first round was impressive but, despite his burgeoning reputation, Nadal's plea to play against Childs on Centre Court fell on deaf ears.
Instead, the match was put on the lowliest of show courts - number 13.
Many of the spectators wandering around the far reaches of the All England Club were watching Andy Roddick warm up with his coach Brad Gilbert on a free court.
It's fair to say the packed crowd on 13 was there to enjoy another plucky British effort and, hopefully, a victory.
One of those with a more serious interest was LTA performance director David Felgate.
He was sitting alongside Alex Bogdanovic - at 19, Britain's best young hope - who went out in straight sets to Sargis Sargsian on Tuesday.
Nadal is the nephew of Miguel Angel Nadal, the defensive stalwart of Barcelona and Spain in the early 1990s known as "The Beast" for his rather uncompromising attitude.
The youngster shares his uncle's brooding intensity but, thankfully, showed no sign of delivering a scything tackle from behind on Childs during the changeover.
Childs lacked Nadal's prowess on the big points
He didn't need to. Most of the damage was done with a heavy forehand that, thanks to an outrageous grip, produces enormous topspin.
But unlike many of his compatriots, Nadal looks ready to take on the challenge of grasscourt tennis and adapt his game accordingly.
Childs is a strong player from the baseline whose lowly ranking does not reflect his talent.
The difference with his opponent of four years younger was in the shot-making ability of the teenager at crucial moments.
At 4-4 and break point down in the second set, Nadal took the initiative in a long rally by attacking the net and finishing with a sublime drop volley.
Childs fought back to go a break up in the third before the first rain of the week arrived, clearly confusing Nadal.
Childs needed more than the weather to save him, however, and Nadal came out after the break in storming fashion to rattle off four straight games and take the match.
More winners were accompanied by pumping fists and shouts of "Vamos" from a highly-charged Nadal, who also picked up a time violation before securing victory.
His uncle would be proud.
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