'I Would Much Rather Die Trying … Than Lose’
Is the phrase that embodies Rafael Nadal. I have to be honest, it has taken me quite a while to eventually appreciate Rafael Nadal. “Rafa,” as he is known to everyone who knows him, graduated last weekend.
He moved past the mantle of an extremely versatile clay courter, to the top athlete in the world who is adept at playing on all surfaces. So what is it that makes Rafa special?
The very first time I saw Rafa play was in the Australian Open 2005. Lleyton Hewitt reached the finals, and had to encounter Rafa in the fourth round. Rafa would have a 2-1 set lead before eventually going down in five to Hewitt.
As he pushed Hewitt every inch along the way, as much as beating him at his own game: taking mid-court short balls on the rise and retrieving ever so diligently, forcing Hewitt to come up with one more shot to win the point time and again. You could see then that he was unique.
He was not just another ball-bashing brawny youngster; in fact, he was skinny back then, without the bulging forearms and Popeye biceps, but the fore-signs of a potential champion were evident nonetheless.
Sport is an intricate domain, as much as we say at the top level the difference between winning and losing is predominantly psychological, Over-Thinking is an Achilles' heel for any athlete.
You should still be able to out-think and strategize an opponent, but over-analyzing a situation at 5-5, 30-30 in the fifth set can be suicidal. One can almost make a convincing argument that a top level athlete probably should not think and rationalize problems to any significant extent, more than what i required.
That is one of the precise reasons why academics almost never do well in sport, leave along the time allocation factor, but also because they have a tendency to overanalyze.
Except for a very few, one can confidently claim that top level athletes aren’t very intellectually curious either. To be fair to them, they don’t need to be in the first place, for their life revolves between the baselines and hence most of them aren’t. So, such a scenario excludes continuous learning…that is precisely why Rafa Nadal is as unique as a Unicorn.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Rafa Nadal is one of the few athletes who is committed to ‘Continuous Learning’ and has a tremendous degree of intellectual curiosity. Consider an issue as simple as speaking in English, watch YouTube videos of Rafa’s interviews three years before and now, you would be amazed at how much better he speaks in an alien language these days.
Sure, if he is expected to speak English almost every day, you could make a case of he has no choice but to improve. However, his earnest attempt during pressers is such a clear indication of that he wants to improve. He could just as easily avoid the hassle, by sitting adjacent to an interpreter.
When asked three years ago on what his dream was, he responded quite bashfully, "It is to win Wimbledon, no?." No one, maybe not even himself would have taken him seriously at that point of time, but it is his inherent commitment to learning that has elevated him to what he is today.
Growing up on the Majorca Island in Spain, playing on clay was first nature to him. Winning Wimbledon was as far a dream as Majorca was from Wimbledon in itself, if not more. The transition, I can only imagine, must have been so far away from his comfort zone, that it was the only way to improve.
Watching footage of him even as recent as two years ago, gives us an idea on the long, hard yet extremely utilitarian learning process he has undergone during this period. He is not a Federer or Sampras, playing on grass was not natural to him; he had to teach himself that in its entirety.
His service action has changed significantly from what it was two years ago, enabling him to serve more solidly (he was broken a lesser number of times than Federer was in the final last Sunday). His backhand, which was not a weapon, is one of the most important tools in his arsenal.
Above all, his belief that he might not know it all, but he sure as hell will try his best and learn to accomplish what he desires on court, can never be emphasized enough.
It is very analogous to Sampras, someone whom we always think in conjunction with Federer. ‘A Champion’s Mind’, is an autobiography of Sampras, where he claims that if one has achieved any success at the top level, that athlete will be significantly more resistant to any change his game, and Sampras was not.
That is precisely why what Rafa has accomplished in the past two years is intriguing: His ability to learn and not resist constructive changes that he needed to make in is game, to challenge Federer on the lawns of Wimbledon.
It is no mean feat by any stretch of imagination. It is an integral reason for his successful transition.
His humility, his willingness to accept limitations and explore into uncharted dark corners to improve his game, and his desire to improve through continuous learning are the components of the fuel that drives his engine.
It is undoubtedly the fuel that would make him an unparalleled champion in his own right. I absolutely love his response when asked about how he won the day’s match.
"I try my best … I don’t have more … no." (starting from 2.00 in the video). This picture is worth a thousand words; it embodies everything I have written until now, the sentiment of a truly pristine feeling, a feeling that reverberates, ‘Did I really win this? … I know I tried my best but this is quite unbelievable.’
He is indeed the quintessence of a second, of an otherwise oxymoron: a Spanish Wimbledon Champion … and most importantly, an ‘Erudite Sportsman.’
Buena Suerte, Rafa!
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4 months ago
Thank you for such a beautiful and insightful foray into the magic that is Rafa.
Vamos!!
from 4 months ago
Killian
thanks mate - glad you liked it
4 months ago
He really fights to the end. His fight at wimbledon says a lot about his mental capacity. I truly admire the man!
from 4 months ago
ME included tsitsi ... not a huge rafa fan, but admire him a lot mate
4 months ago
I am from India and am a big Rafa fan for 3 years.How distant Rafa was from winning wimbledon in 2005 was clear from Gilles muller`s words who after beating Rafa in 2005 wimbledon in 2nd round said that Rafa may never win wimbledon.It was a very untimely and rude words for an 18 year old.But Rafa has proved Muller wrong within 3 years by winning wimbledon 2008.The most important thing that strikes about Rafa is his grace and genuine humbleness off court and his super on court competitiveness.Rafa is an example for yougsters to follow.I wish he wins many more wimbledons and other slams and become one of the greatest of alltime.
from 4 months ago
bobby hi
yeah - thanks for the comment
but trust me - proving mueller wrong wud ve been the last thing on Rafa's mind in the fading twilight at Wimbledon
yeah - love his humility - and wud also love for him to win in Aus or U.S. ... on the hard courts
4 months ago
Mark my words. Rafa is a cheat (knowingly or unknowingly) and he and his uncle Toni will have to face up to the world when some one finally reveals the undetectable drugs he is on. He plays the ugliest tennis ever played by a top player. Agreed, that brawn and doggedness won over beauty and elegance this time but Rafa will never be the player Roger is.
from 4 months ago
cant agree with you mate - but thanks for the comment
if not for contrasting personalities - sport becomes mundane
4 months ago
The drugs part or the ugly part?
You know, the base ball world here in the US tried to ignore Barry Bonds' association with drugs. The guy hits the ball farther than any one else before. He has never tested positive either. When things look unnatural they generally are. Just a matter of time. No doubt in my mind that Rafa is juiced up.
As to the Ugliness of tennis play, just watch Roger or any other top player play and watch Rafa play and it become self evident. The constant tugging of the underwear doesn't help either.
4 months ago
Maybe we should ask his fellow spaniard
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7502763.stm
Spaniard Beltran tests positive
Manuel Beltran is being questioned by French police after a positive test for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) at the 2008 Tour de France.
4 months ago
Hi! Long John,
I am not the only one that thinks that the Nadal win is tainted. Like I said just a matter of time. Down the road remember to write to me " You were right all along mate!
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-streeter9-2008jul09,0,2566205.column
4 months ago
i mean - there must be an end to conspiracy theory ... i can just as easily claim the fed's on drugs too
you gotta STOP !
4 months ago
If you want to join the side of the argument that says every record-breaking win or big-time match up is caused by steroids, be my guest. I assume you believe these athletes are guilty until proven innocent?
If I am wrong, I am sorry. But until there is evidence of this, there is no reason to try to convince us believers that there is something wrong with the game of tennis.
I will take back my comments if you indeed prove correct, but I will not stand by and let you convince me that every good thing in sports is a fraud.
4 months ago
Oh, great piece Long John! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
from 4 months ago
THANKS Tyler - am with you on that - in terms of ... the drug thing, its a conspiracy theory - glad you enjoyed the piece
4 months ago
The only evidence that Nadal is on steroids is his freakish build and his top notch results. Being that so many other players have tested positive in recent years (including some, like Greg Rusedski, who didn't do it), one would think that Nadal would've been caught by now. Until that happens, drug allegations are unfounded and only impugn the integrity of someone who is currently elevating the game to new heights.
from 4 months ago
besides - there is no end to the slippery slope if we start questioning every athlete who is physically huge
innocent until proven guilty - is the only way to go on these isses, should I even dare say, I think I trust Rafa
as always - thanks for the comment and good to know you -
4 months ago
besides - there is no end to the slippery slope if we start questioning every athlete who is physically huge
innocent until proven guilty - is the only way to go on these isses, should I even dare say, I think I trust Rafa -
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