Rafael Nadal: Completing a glorious comeback

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 09: Rafael Nadal with his Cup after the Final of Roland Garros Tennis French Open 2013 – Day 15

As Rafael Nadal waited in Court Philippe Chatrier to receive the Coupe des Mousquetaires after etching his name in history as the first man to take eight titles at the hallowed arena in the Open Era, there was a serene calmness about him. From the moment he had entered the amphitheatre that day, Rafa had exhibited an amazing equanimity and incredible poise – there was hardly the show of celebration through fistpumps or the roar of Vamos!

Was it just to show his respect to his opponent, David Ferrer, who was his friend and compatriot, or was it because the opposition was too light a challenge to bring out all his emotions? Or most importantly, was it a vindication that he had buried all the doubts and anxiety that had hovered in his mind during the first week of the French Open and thus brought to the fore his tranquil, stoic self?

For Nadal, winning the French Open was as much of an announcement to the world that he had never forgotten how to excel at majors as it was a validation to his own mind that nothing has changed despite those seven months of sabbatical owing to Hoffa’s syndrome. For a passionate and hungry competitor like the Spaniard, it surely couldn’t have been easy watching his own arch-rivals rule the roost while he quietly convalesced in Mallorca. Knowing how deeply he invests himself every single day in the searing competition and how much he dedicates himself to the sport he truly loves, staying away from tennis definitely wasn’t a comfortable period for him.

Two Slams went by, the year-ending Championships sailed by, the Davis Cup final also passed by, but Rafa was never present anywhere. Even a professional of 12 years like Rafa couldn’t evade the seeds of doubt that were sowed in his mind during this stretch. Would he ever be able to get to where he once was after coming back from his longest hiatus? What did the future hold?

Considering the southpaw’s problems with his knee, his return on the soft claycourts of South America in February was hailed as a welcome decision. He simply wanted to test the waters; he and his team never even thought of a miraculous comeback. “Five months ago nobody of my team dreamed about a comeback like this because we thought that it’s going to be impossible,” Rafa said after his win in Paris.

And so it was. The former World No. 1 looked tentative and seemed unsure of his movement at Vina del Mar. There was hardly the effortless sliding that Rafa is characterized with, his backhand hardly had the sheen it used to. It seemed like he was a warrior thrust into a battle scene without his armoury. When he succumbed to Horacio Zeballos in the final at Chile, it became more prominent.

But perhaps that loss was what he needed. It forced him to do some soul-searching. When he reigned supreme at Sao Paulo, Rafa wasn’t perfect but he had taken babysteps to reminding himself that he needn’t be blinded by the spotlight anymore. At Acapulco, he surely had reminded himself that he can once again be the champion that he was.

But what was more important was that the seven-month hiatus had taught Nadal to be more relaxed and intrepid. Somewhere inside, despite missing the grind of the tour, Rafa had learnt his biggest lesson during his time away. It had taught him the precious lesson of enjoying the sport. And Rafa himself confirms it when he says, “I am taking everything a little bit more relaxed. Before I wanted to practice every day a lot to be 100 percent sure that I am ready, but that’s not possible at the day of today anymore.” Maybe that is what spurred him on even when he was down during the final at Indian Wells.

When he came back to his favourite claycourts of Europe, he was as excited and jubilant as a kid to return to his fiefdom. The joy surpassed every other thing, including the realization that he was to face the World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo who had delivered Rafa some of his most ruthless blows during 2011. Perhaps it was also too early for him to gauge his improvement and mental fortitude against the world’s very best. The Mallorcan went on to lose it in straight sets, but that certainly acted as a blessing in disguise that would help him when they would go on to lock horns again in Paris.

For the rest of the clay season before arriving in Paris, Rafa had expectedly been on a roll. He engaged himself in a bloodless battle, slaying every fighter and breaking down every obstacle that came his way. And all this happened despite Nadal’s knee pain flaring up once again in Barcelona. Nevertheless, thanks to his mesmerizing winning streak, when he descended on the French capital, he was expected to cruise at the place which is considered his personal playground. But Rafa astonished and even shocked his admirers when he lost back-to-back sets in his first two matches – the first time that he had ever done so in Paris.

For even a player of Rafa’s calibre, talent and accomplishments, returning to a Grand Slam is never the easiest thing to do. Considering that Rafa had been a perpetual slow starter, it only compounded his problems further. The demon called ‘doubts’ had come back to torment the leftie and his anxiety became evident. Would he ever be able to go through that motion of seven difficult rounds and pierce through every wall once again?

The 27-year-old looked hesitant to go for his shots, consistently missed his bread-and-butter forehands and remained planted on the baseline. None of the thundering aggression was there and all of Rafa’s scepticism reflected on his countenance. It took him three rounds and one whole week to comprehend that he needs to be free, that he needs to enjoy it without restraining himself.

When Nadal began his quest for his seventh title of the year during the second week of the French Open, he was a completely different individual – more mature and far more willing to dictate the shots. Rafa had finally conquered his demons. When he took the court against Novak Djokovic in what was the most anticipated match of the whole tournament, the clarity of his thoughts shone forth.

He wasn’t afraid to attack, he wasn’t uncomfortable to venture near the net, he wasn’t hesitant in returning Novak’s deep shots from the baseline – the Spaniard was the one pulling the trigger. The role reversal from Monte Carlo was on display for all to see. The third seed simply waltzed on the Parisian clay, thumping his whiplash forehand and delivering blows on the Serbian as and when required. His self-belief, courage and resilience were once again on display – Rafa had discovered himself. Up a break in the fifth set, the normally invulnerable Novak flinched and Rafa came storming back to clinch victory.

Rafael Nadal celebrates match point during the Men’s Singles final match against David Ferrer on day fifteen of the French Open

After passing his greatest test in the semi-finals, Nadal was far more placid in the final and, needless to say, far more confident about himself. When Rafa fell down on his beloved clay in a mixture of sheer disbelief and elation after making himself immortal in Paris, it was the culmination of a glorious comeback. It was the victory of a man whose incredible self-assurance had washed away any kind of negativity that ever existed as the journey ahead became tougher. It was an example how far selfless devotion and true commitment can take a person; and undoubtedly, Rafa remains an inspiration for all.