Looking beyond the Monte Carlo Masters: an introspection

“I don’t feel I am the biggest favourite to win the tournament this year. It’s not easy to win this tournament. I will go day by day. It’s not possible to win every year. Some day that’s going to stop. I will try my best to make that happen, but that’s life. Not everything is forever. But I am very excited to be here and have a high motivation to play well and put myself in position to have a good tournament. I am a candidate if I play my game”

– Rafael Nadal, before the start of the 2013 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters.

These words came to be prophetically true as Novak Djokovic bested Rafael Nadal at the finals of the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters. Many still can’t believe that Djokovic won and those that do, can’t seem to go beyond the fact that the match lasted just under the two-hour mark and was utterly dominated by Djokovic for the most part. It didn’t go out as planned, first an hour-long rain delay, then the absolute horror of watching Rafa fold and relinquish his eight-year long supremacy at the very place that made him to be the king.

Novak Djokovic with the winners trophy after his straight sets victory against Rafael Nadal in their final of the ATP Monte Carlo Masters on April 21, 2013. (Getty Images)

A score-line of 6-2, 7-6 says a lot. It speaks a lot about Nadal’s performance as it does speak for Nole’s. There’s the ecstasy of victory in it as there is the anguish of being the vanquished, after an unrelenting fightback. But more than all that, there’s the knowledge that nothing stays the same forever; as much as one would want it to remain so.

Maybe on a different day, against the same Novak Djokovic, Rafa could have won his ninth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters’ title. His sobriquet would have held even more reinforcement, the perfect icing to his comeback cake for the season. He would have secured – and defended – a much-valued 1000-points, not to forget his 23^rd Masters’ title – two more than nearest rival, Federer – and gone on to enjoy yet another year of uninterrupted success. Except that, that day wasn’t today and Rafa’s still without 23 Masters’ titles. In essence, he also won’t be able to boast about nine straight titles and will have to start all over again with regard to his consistency and supremacy at Monte Carlo. What has then changed for Rafael Nadal? Not much, if one were to be honest.

The world knows he’s not one for bragging or boasting. Even at the best of times, Rafa is the most unassuming guy on tour, prioritising the sport rather than his own self – at times even to the detriment of his health. Happy with his wins and just as happy for his rivals, in case they edge past him without holding any grudges or grievances. One loss at the Monte Carlo Masters doesn’t signify the end of Nadal’s excellence on clay as it doesn’t change his innate character.He still remains the ‘King of Clay’ with staggering statistics and percentage figures that could put any opponent on the back-foot. Rafa veritably remains the guy to beat on clay, one who never lets his opponent have his way easily; and in the greater sense of the game, shall undisputedly remain one of the greatest clay court players ever to grace the sport.

There however will be a paradigm shift in the years forth, with regard to the onus placed on Rafa right before the start of the clay season. There’ll be someone else, who will start as the proverbial favourite; a word that Rafa would be quite happy to mask from his ever-growing list of appreciative commemorations.