The Legacy of Rafael Nadal: A Tribute to Tenacity and Perseverance

Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement, with his final tournament set for the Davis Cup this November. As a devoted fan, I find myself wondering if tennis will ever hold the same allure for me. This sentiment echoes the void I felt years ago when Sachin Tendulkar retired from cricket. My childhood was intertwined with watching cricket, especially when Sachin was at the crease. For many Indians, including myself, Sachin represented hope and aspiration. His presence on the field was a beacon of possibility.

Sachin’s journey taught us that even those who don’t fit the conventional mold of a sportsman, those who didn’t have any undue backing, can still rise to the pinnacle of their field. Of course, there is no question about the talent he possessed but his work ethic, discipline, passion, and humility were qualities we admired and aspired to emulate. Sachin was the ideal role model, embodying traits any mother would wish for her son. He was a figure we could look up to and strive to become.

For me, Rafael Nadal occupies a similar space. Unlike Roger Federer, whose effortless grace makes tennis seem easy, Nadal’s style of play reveals the immense effort he invests in every point. His relentless tenacity is what truly captivates me. While he may not be the most naturally gifted or graceful player (well, in relation to elite tennis professional players, that is), his unmatched effort and willingness to fight until the end set him apart.

I’ve read that if one had to bet their life on a player, Nadal would be the choice. His approach to every point, regardless of its significance, is remarkable. Whether at the start of a match or towards the end of a losing cause, Nadal’s effort suggests that his life depends on it. Nadal won’t just lose a point, you would have to win one against him.

Roger Federer seemed to play on a different plane, as if he descended from the heavens to demonstrate effortless tennis. That made him, at least for me, sort of non-relatable as a fan. I could only admire his game from afar. Nadal, however, is very much human. He is the best, we can be. We see him play and we exclaim, here is the epitome of humanness! Through dedication, perseverance, and effort, he has reached a level that only a few can attain. This is what makes Nadal so inspiring.

Just like in Sachin, Nadal embodies the qualities every mother would want in her son: success born of hard work, perseverance, and discipline. Despite his success, he remains humble and respectful of the sport that has given him fame and fortune. As Patrick Mouratoglou said, “Nadal is very very very very close to the ultimate values of a professional athlete.”

I began watching tennis as Pete Sampras’s career was winding down. I witnessed his last Grand Slam win at the US Open against Andre Agassi. At the time, I thought his 14 Grand Slam titles would stand unchallenged. However, Federer soon emerged, and I was uneasy with the idea of him easily surpassing Sampras’s record. While I appreciated Federer’s game, the thought of Sampras’s record being short-lived didn’t sit well with me.

Then Nadal arrived, and without knowing much about his game, I instantly liked him because he was a serious contender to Federer’s dominance. From winning clay court tournaments to challenging Federer at Wimbledon, at the surface that was his favorite, and finally defeating him in 2008 in a match regarded as the greatest of all time, Nadal solidified my fandom.

There have been many matches where I would turn off the TV, fearing to see Nadal lose. Yet, I would return, only to find Nadal back in a winning position. His indomitable spirit, which brings him back from seemingly unwinnable situations, sets him apart. His perseverance and never-say-die attitude elevate him beyond the realm of humanity.

A recent example is the 2022 Australian Open final, where he came back from a position of certain defeat against Medvedev to secure his 21st Grand Slam win. Even seasoned fans like me were astonished by his resilience. But Nadal believed in himself, and he triumphed.

After Sachin Tendulkar retired, I stopped watching cricket regularly. While there were other cricketing superstars around, like Virat Kohli or Mahendra Singh Dhoni, none could captivate me as Sachin did. Now, with Nadal retiring, I wonder if other tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will inspire me to follow tennis as Nadal did.

One of my regrets is missing the chance to watch Sachin play live. I missed the fans chanting “Sachin, Sachin, Sachin” while he was out there in the middle. With Nadal, I hoped to see him play live at least once, but circumstances have made it unlikely. How electrifying it would be to cheer for him after watching one of his passing shots live in a stadium! Watching him at Roland Garros would have been a dream. The closest I came to watching him play was during a trip to Mallorca in 2017. Mallorca is not a usual place on an Indian traveler’s radar. My friends and family were really surprised when they heard I would be spending a couple of days in Mallorca on my first trip to Europe. Though I hadn’t scheduled my itinerary to match any tournament, on that trip, I got to watch Rafa win the US Open from a hotel room.

In a recent interview, Nadal expressed that he has no regrets, knowing he gave his all. This serves as a valuable life lesson: to always give your best and embrace the outcome with grace. Nadal’s legacy is firmly embedded in the history of tennis. While the prospect of not seeing him on the court again is a great loss for fans, I am thankful to have witnessed his remarkable career. Rafael Nadal is truly one of the best.