Player Spotlight - Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal

The world of tennis is a highly competitive one. With numerous players participating on the ATP circuit, it is an arduous task to carve out a niche for yourself. The journey towards the top is tough and with the demands of the game being so high, it is even tougher to maintain that kind of form when you are the top of the food chain. But one Rafael “Rafa” Nadal Parera has done exactly that. And with all that Rafael Nadal has achieved in such a short time, there is no denying the fact that he just might be the greatest player ever to step onto a tennis court.

His greatness can simply be ascertained by all the accolades that he has accumulated over the years. Nadal had a natural talent for tennis, a fact which was recognized by his uncle Toni Nadal at a very young age. By the age of 12, Nadal had won European and Spanish titles in his age group. His performance at the junior level was a clear indication of a bright career. And how well has his career turned out!

From winning his first career ATP match at the age of 15 to winning his first Grand Slam title in 2005 at the French Open, that too in his first attempt, Nadal has gone from strength to strength in his career.

Nadal has always had a very physical game. And although it has put his body under a lot of strain, it has also aided him in a grand scheme. With what seems like a never ending storage of energy, Nadal always has an advantage during long rallies. With such physique and such stamina, it always seems like he is playing the fifth set with the same energy as he plays the first and when matches do get stretched out to the last set, you can always count on him to come out on top.

But things have never been easy for him. He is part of a generation which has produced certain future hall-of-famers like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick etc. And each and every single time Nadal has brought his A-Game with him. Many a sports pundit supports Nadal as the G.O.A.T by stating that Federer had won majority of his Grand Slams in a much easier time as compared to Nadal.

Without filibustering into this never ending debate further, there is no doubt that Nadal has set the standard for all the players out there. His record of 8 French Open titles will probably never get eclipsed, but is this the only thing that has set him apart from other multiple Grand-Slam winners like Pete Sampras, Bjorn Bjorg and others?

The answer is NO. The thing that has made Nadal The Rafael Nadal is the untethered, unbreakable and unassailable spirit that he has. Due to the heavy and aggressive playing style that he has, Nadal has seen his fair share of injuries, the worst of all happening during the 2012 season. Due to tendinitis in his knees, Nadal couldn’t compete in the Olympics and the successive tournaments which saw him drop to world number 4 for the first time in eight years. He even opted out of the 2013 Australian Open which saw him drop out of the top four for the first time since 2005.

With concerns being raised over his longevity in this tough game, Nadal picked himself up like a true champion and then had a historic comeback winning the French as well as the US open in the very same year.

Nadal has taken his Grand Slam tally to 13 and with age on his side, he is well on the heels of Roger Federer’s 17 Slam titles. Only time will tell whether he would beat the Swiss Maestro’s record, but till the time comes, the tennis world would continue to get enthralled by his long reaches, his speed on the court, his grunts and his ferocious forehands.