5 reasons why tennis is better when Rafael Nadal is fit

Rafael Nadal is a beast in every sense of the word. The Spaniard has been an unfortunate victim of several injuries over the years, but somehow manages to defy all odds to keep standing on the tennis court.The crowd loves him, the players respect him, and the sport needs him. A fit Rafael Nadal can cause mayhem on the court. His non-stop aggression makes him one of the toughest players to face.Even if certain players can match his talent, it is a much overwhelming task to maintain that level for five straight sets. Nadal will zap the opponent’s energy by making them play that one extra shot in every point.All things, no matter how good or bad, have to come to an end. But for now, tennis needs Nadal to stay fit and healthy.

#1 Exceptional reach and shots

If there is one thing Nadal’s opponents don’t need to study further, is Nadal’s ability to reach almost every part of the court and return the ball. His style of play might be a crucial factor leading to his injuries, but it is exactly that style of play which has won him 14 Grand Slam titles.

You can envision Nadal running from side to side, seemingly out of the point but somehow manage to hit an ‘out of this world’ running forehand that grazes the baseline for a winner. Very few people can manage to pull off such shots; even fewer are able to consistently make them.

#2 Aggression tennis

The grunts, the look he gives to his opponents after every lost point, a loud ‘vamos’ after winning a rally, are all trademarks of Nadal’s character. He has perfectly managed to transform his aggression and make it his biggest strength while on the court. Whether he is attacking or defending, or turning defence into an outrageous attack, Nadal never lets his intensity drop.

The competitive attitude simply does not fade away, regardless the score-line. The player on the other side of the court does not matter; the venue or the type of court, does not matter. The only thing that matters for Nadal, is relentless determination.

A person which extreme levels of intrinsic motivation, Nadal passion for the sport shows through his game on the court.

#3 Long lasting matches

The never-give-up attitude has done wonders for the Spaniard. At Grand Slams, Nadal’s matches have gone the distance 21 times. Astonishingly, he has won 16 times. From the fans’ perspective, the further the match gets, the better chances Nadal has to win.

A lot of matches go to the deciding set at ATP events. Nadal has won 120 out of 170 matches that have gone to the deciding third or fifth set. Nadal is known to often start slow and gather momentum as the match goes on. The longer the match goes, the better for the fans who get to see more of the ‘King of Clay’.

#4 Rivalries and competition for the titles

At the start of a major tournament, the bookies are kept busy with bets on a handful of players. Other than Rafa, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray lead favourites to win. Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori have taken long strides to reach the top as well.

Nadal is still a strong force on hard and grass courts. His domination on clay is evident, but even on other surfaces, Nadal is one opponent no one wants to face. A fit Nadal will mean that competition will be better and mouth-watering matches will be played early on in the tournament.

Nadal also enjoys a healthy rivalry with Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray. The top two on the list of most Grand Slams won have been a part of some unbelievable tennis matches and produced the best out of each other.

#5 Humbleness

Nadal is a real role model. It seems unreal for a person to be so aggressive on the court to be humble off it. He has always been gracious in defeat and victory and shares a kind word for his opponent after the match.

His arrogance is limited to his shots and a gentler side of the champion is seen after the end of the contest. Tennis is lucky to have a personality like Nadal as well as Roger Federer to promote the game. The King of Clay’s presence on the court will inspire many young children to take up the sport to play like their favourite Spaniard.