Thank you, Rafa!

Rafel Nadal (L) with Roger Federer

Rafa is the ultimate example of how sheer hard work, determination and an unrelenting attitude brings you success in life. Let’s be honest. He doesn’t have the finesse or grace of Roger, nor the range of shots or even technique of Novak or Andy or Pistol Pete, nor the big serving capabilities of a Berdych or a Goran. Yet, he has been more successful than many have been, or ever will be, by working to be physically and mentally the toughest player out there. He simply doesn’t know when to give up. Or rather, he doesn’t know what giving up actually means.

Just to give an idea of his achievements and efforts, I refer to this article that I came across in January 2012.

I don’t know how true the things mentioned in that article are, but to play for your life each match, knowing that you might not take the court again, and still give your 200%, is nothing short of exponentially inspirational. And to be doing that for years only makes one go speechless.

The other aspect that makes Nadal so special is his ridiculously down-to-earth nature and remarkable graciousness in victory or defeat. Observe how he refers to his opponents not by name. To think of it, phrasing your sentence as “It was a privilege to play the greatest player of all time” might sound a little more comforting or add joy to Federer after a loss or a win, than merely saying that it was a privilege to play Roger.

Similarly, Rafa has referred to Novak as “the no.1 player in the world” in various presentation ceremonies, immaterial of whether he was making a speech after winning the match or losing it. They may be small things, but you only have to listen to them at that moment to see what a difference they make.

Even if the most cynical of critics were to dismiss such things as disguise in front of the cameras (as if rehearsals would come to mind after, say, the small matter of winning your first ever Australian Open or losing a six-hour Grand Slam final), there are other instances where Rafa has shown his true colours.

Back in 2010, Nadal made a visit to Anantapur, India, which in 2006 was listed under the country’s 250 most backward districts. He opened a tennis school there and spent some time with the children. His visit was so discreet that no one from the media knew about his visit until he posted about it on his Facebook page after returning home.

I have had the privilege of seeing the man in flesh and blood. A small group of 100-odd fans had gathered outside a restaurant in Melbourne where Rafa was doing a photo shoot for a campaign before the 2012 Australian Open. He was kind enough to come out and sign autographs for the fans. And I distinctly remember him being escorted away two-three times by the organisers, only for him to turn around and come back and sign a few more autographs for people shouting “Please Rafa!”.

He was exactly how he comes across to be – humble, down to earth, shy and all smiles. He must have uttered “Gracias” at least twenty times in reply to whatever the waiting fans said in Spanish.

When you listen to him, it is amazing to think that he is only 27, an age where people are forgiven to be hot-blooded and temperamental. He acknowledges that things will never always be great and that at that the same time, you need to constantly keep working hard no matter how good or bad things are. His wisdom truly belies his age.

I don’t know if I have put anything that I learned from him to use. I don’t know if I ever will or can. But what I can safely say is that he has given me reasons to smile. There are people you follow because you like a certain trait of theirs. But there are people who affect you in a way that you start to think of their successes and failures as your very own. You don’t merely follow them. You idolize, worship and adore them. Not because you get bragging rights among your friends, but because you genuinely think of them as one of your own.

Thank you Rafa, for being the guy you are. You may never know, but you have put a smile on my face more times than I can ever remember. You have given me reasons to be happy. And though personally I havent been having the best of times recently, you put a big wide genuine smile on my face with your US Open triumph.

Watching you lying on your stomach and sobbing tears of joy brought a feeling that will probably be not trumped even if I were to achieve something huge. I just watched on, feeling as happy as if someone from my family achieved something big.

Thank you Rafa, once again, for giving me reasons to smile and be genuinely happy.

This is the brilliant article that motivated me to write this. Give it a read if you haven’t already.