As the tennis season undergoes its one-month hiatus from the world of sport, the game’s top players will have one eye on a fast start at the 2015 Australian Open.
‘Off-season’ is an ill assigned term for the precious few weeks players have between resting their bodies from this year’s battles.
It is well known that the Australian Open gives no handouts. Players coming in underprepared will be weeded out one by one, withering under the brutal Australian sun.
Grand slam tennis requires a player to fight alone through seven rounds of best-of-five set matches over two weeks.
One off day is one too many.
On the Spanish island of Mallorca you can be sure that one man will be suffering through long training sessions, murdering the felt off the ball in a bid to be in top shape heading into January.
Rafael Nadal is no stranger to pain.
Throughout a career initially forged on the unforgiving clay courts of Europe, ‘Rafa’ has learned to embrace the suffering that comes hand in hand with his brutal style.
Only a brief inspection of Nadal’s game is required to see that there is nothing easy about it. His hulking figure and game face snarl are hallmarks of a life spent hunting and murdering the yellow fuzzy ball.
His whipping uppercut forehands provide an uncomfortable feeling to the shoulder just watching him.
He is every bit the modern day gladiator, weapon clutched firmly in his left hand as he sweats and bounces across the net from his rival, marching back and forth at his own pace between points.
Upon winning a crucial point, as he so often does, his trademark “Vamos!” and fist-pump send crowds into rapture. Are you not entertained?
Tennis has had its fair share of fighters over the years, our own Lleyton Hewitt springs to mind, but not like this. Not like Rafa.
Where Lleyton is David with the heart of a lion, Rafa is Goliath with a heart of a raging bull and every bit as ferocious.
His unbending will to win has won him countless matches and a loyal army of fans that yell louder and louder with each slam victory, hauling himself up to Federer’s mythical numbers.
Numerous injuries have plagued Nadal’s career, but where most come back a shadow of themselves, Nadal returns looking every bit the conditioned prize fighter.
Despite his success, within this titan of tennis lies his greatest asset, his humility. For all his bulging bravado and powerful groundstrokes, the man from Mallorca maintains an awfully modest outlook on his tennis.
This perspective has given him a psychological edge in many of his career’s biggest battles. Indeed if you’ve ever heard Nadal speak of Federer, you would think he has never beaten the bloke.
From the very beginning, back as a fearless teenager in 2004, Nadal was humble in his approach. Together with his uncle Toni, his lifelong coach, they have continuously chipped away at his game like an eternal apprentice despite reaching the pinnacle of the sport at the tender age of 18 with victory at Roland Garros.
Throughout the years Nadal has constantly played the underdog card prior to big tournaments and matches. He even displays caution with first round minnows; unknown journeymen get Rafa’s utmost respect before facing off.
It is a psychological tactic that a player uses to reduce pressure on themselves, and thus perform freely on the day. Rafa has played it to perfection.
Only it’s not a tactic. He genuinely believes it.
It’s not a lack of confidence as much as it is an acute awareness that tennis is a game of inches, as they all are, and that any bloke in the top 100 of men’s tennis has spent years at his craft to pose a threat to anyone if he happens to zone that day.
You can see the importance of it all to Nadal. Whether he’s in the final of Wimbledon or half way through demoralising another poor journeyman, you can see the significance.
Every match, game, and point is sacred, and he has the rituals to show it.
In between points, nervous tics shed light on his focus to the task at hand: socks adjusted, hair combed, baselines swept of disheveled clay from the point before. Not to mention that touching a line on the court after a point is blasphemy.
These are the hints we can see that give us a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most mentally formidable athletes of all-time. Little quirks, tics, and rituals that put him in the best state of mind before a point.
He has done it every match of his career I have ever seen, no matter the score, no matter the occasion.
Where we see a titan figure with unbreakable defence and a forehand from hell, he sees the rust on his blade and the small chinks in his armour. He feels the pebble in his shoe. He knows he is human.
Vulnerable, scared, unsure. He leaves no stone unturned. Every point is important. Every. Damn. Point.
Chance has played only a cameo in the unfolding narrative of Nadal’s career.
When he no longer feels he can invest this draining effort into his game, he will hang up the bats and retire into a quiet life on the Mediterranean.
He is far too humble to assume he could compete with anything less, and that is what makes him the best.
john
Guest
A GREAT ARTICAL WRITTEN ABOUT ONE OF THE GREAT PLAYERS OF ALL TIME.WHEN RAFA IS SIDELINED THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE A AFFECT ON THE GAME.PLEASED TO HEAR HE IS ON THE ROAD TO FITNESS AGAIN.AND HOPE TO SEE HIM AGAIN IN THE MIX OF THE OTHER GREAT PLAYERS.VAMOOSE!
My name is jeff
Guest
Great Article!!!!
Ankit Shah
Guest
I'm from India. I have many role models but Rafa is right up there. A gladiator on court and so humble off court. Rafa is the reason why I love tennis so much. He's truly elavated the sport. His indomitable fighting spirit is second to none. Simply a joy to watch! This article is a nice tribute to the 'King of clay' and my favorite athele across all of sports.
Ben
Guest
What an Awesome and inspiring athlete he is ! Never come across an athlete who is so competitive successful and yet so humble!! A true champion!! Great article!
Kelly
Guest
It is nice to read an article which captures Nadal's humility. Watching tennis without Nadal really left a void at key tournaments. For the first time, some matches were too boring, especially those one sided ones where Roger or Novak demolished their opponents. Even Roger recognized this when he said tennis really needs Nadal. Nadal faced a lot of undeserved criticisms in 2014. Australian fans heckled him while he was trying to stay in the match during the finals with incredible pain. It was obvious because he was not able to use his usual serve. They never gave him credit for years of warrior stamina and gracious defeat. What about Federer in London, and the number of times Nishikori dropped out due to injuries? Rafa and his family adore Roger and often watch him practice. Nevertheless, Roger started to criticize Nadal's game for not being penalized for time violations. Rafa has been playing as a pro for approximately 10 years, and now his style is an issue. Why now? During this year's US Open, in an interview Roger admitted that he started the ritual of grabbing a towel during the match. As the writer indicated in the article, I have never seen Rafa throw a raquet, refuse to shake hands, pump his chest, brandish his arms at the crowd, kick a tennis ball, look up at his box for coaching instructions (he is so intensely focused on the next play), take unnecessary time outs (with a massage, drinks, and a banana as I have seen with another star during a close final), etc. The tennis officials need to start listening to Nadal's suggestions(now he as given up on repeating them). Too many players, even younger players, are dealing with or have dealt with career challenging injuries - Juan Del Potro, Jerzy, Andy Murray, Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil, Azarenka, Halep, Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard, Wilfred Tsonga, Li Na, etc. It is great that tennis is growing internationally, but it translates into more indoor hard courts, not evenly distributed on clay, grass, and hard. The trend towards a dominance of hard courts has contributed to more back injuries. Also, the tight scheduling of the French Open and Wimbledon is too grueling and does not allow for proper training. All and all, there are too many matches with a break only in December(a training session). No other sport is so grueling. This is why Nadal and Roger show so much respect to their opponents. They understand the sacrifices all top 100 players have to make.
Mukhtar
Guest
Not only is he a legend in the sport, the man is gold through-and-through. It has been a pleasure to witness the greatest clay-courter of this generation pummel his opponents into the European clay, for the past decade. I adore Roger, but, also deeply respect Rafa's game. There will be others who will stack up the numbers, but Rafa, for sheer tenacity and comebackability, will remain the gold standard for a long time to come. Well-penned article. Thanks for sharing ;)
Bandy
Roar Guru
The wedgie is as much a part of Nadal's rituals as any! He wouldn't be Rafa without it.
Bandy
Roar Guru
Well said Jane, the next starts of tennis have some big shoes to fill.
Bandy
Roar Guru
He is a real throw back to a time when a lot of athletes were humble Pam!
joan leachman
Guest
Thank you so much for such a heart-warming article on Rafa. As a senior citizen and a proud mother of seven and grandmother of twelve, I have long admired Rafa's skill as a tennis player, but even more I have admired his spirit, his never-say-die attitude, and his sportsmanship. I have often encouraged the sportsmen in my family to watch him play and to imitate his character traits and most of all his undying humility as they compete. Whatever happens, he will always be a favorite. We are appreciative of a true sports role model in this day and time.
daisy n. quintans
Guest
thank you so much for the article on rafa. i wish all my friends could read it and realize what a great guy Rafa really is inspite of his demeanor on court. he's lucky to have uncle tony who guides him every step of the way off and on the courts. it is refreshing to watch a young man exhibit such class, no tantrums ever and no breaking rackets! he also has a generous heart and doesn't hesitate to give credit where it's due...
pamela shaw
Guest
Stated beautifully. Rafa is the guy with humility and even that aspect of his personality is humble. Based on all of his accomplishments, he really does not fit with being a professional athlete. Most pro athletes are full of themselves, some times to the point of being obnoxious.
Ben
Guest
Nadal's history of injury and rehabilitation is an amazing story in and of itself. Australian sportspeople and clubs would do well to closely study the medical treatments available in Spain with a view to applying them to our young men and women.
matt
Guest
You fail to mention Nadal's most important ritual In between points - adjusting the wedgie
Bandy
Roar Guru
Tennis has been very fortunate to have Nadal and Federer for the last 10 years. Not only did they take the game itself to new heights, but they represented the game extremely well in how they carried themselves off the court. An all-time great who will be sorely missed when he retires.
Jane
Guest
As our children look to find role models in the elite or all sports, let them look no further than a tennis court occupied by Rafa. Would you ever see him do a ridiculous dance after hitting a winner? Would you hear him talking trash after serving an ace? Would you see him beating up his girlfriend in an elevator? When speaking of his tennis accomplishments would you ever hear him say "me" instead of "we"? He plays the game as well as it has ever been played, but with great heart and humility. I will miss that when he's done.
Monaco
Guest
He first caught my eye when I saw him interviewed some years ago and he was surprisingly ( for a renowned athlete) humble and unassuming and with a sense of humor! I started watching his game and realized that not only does he have a gladiator's skills and a champion's heart but that he is nice human being, too. Thanks for this article - it is an excellent insight on why Rafael Nadal is one of the best tennis greats!