Well, it's always struck me that Nicolas isn't the most mentally clued-in guy out there, but then that's part of his appeal. I'm not saying he's in the Safin league, but there are times when he can't think clearly or tries to over-press and it loses him the match vis-a-vis the Agassi encounter in Melbourne.
Here, I should imagine he hadn't adjusted well enough to the flight from Australia, the new surface, the playing conditions, the opponent... and it cost him the win today.
A few years ago, one of Escude's old coaches mentioned that he sometimes had a Cubist perspective on life and that he was something of a rebel in terms of French tennis, seeing life as inhibiting his creative desires and wishes. I suppose that's all part of his roguish Gallic charm (that, or the quite incredibly gnomic jaw he possesses) but I wonder sometimes whether that attitude returns to haunt him.
Just a thought, anyway. Best wishes, the Sjengster (whose favourite player also lost today, so we're in rather the same boat as it happens).