Rafael Nadal: a magician, an inspiration and a leader
A French Nobel prize laureate once said, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” These words have found their way into the heart of Rafael Nadal - an embodiment of the very words spoken ages ago by a French
Nobel laureate. Mankind has been endowed with very similar characteristics, yet very few amongst them choose to leave their mark in the annals of history.
Very few find it in themselves the grit, character and determination that makes them transcend from the ordinary into the realm of the extra-ordinary, the exceptional. It is their ability to conspire against nature, to swim against the rising tide, to fight
against all obstacles but not losing sight of their ambition. The very thing that sets them apart is their passion and their devotion to their goal.
In a time where the mists of darkness have clouded the faculty of reason, the most unlikely hero has been born like a phoenix rising from the ashes. This man is none other than Rafael Nadal, the youngest ever tennis player to complete his set of career grand
slam titles. At just the age of 24, where many limit themselves with self imposed barriers, Nadal has aimed for the stars and beyond. The elite club of members that have achieved this nearly impossible feat does not include many of the tennis heart throbs
and legends, including Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras. Nadal has now joined Andre Agassi to become part of that elusive club of men that have won all four majors, the Davis Cup and the Olympics.
After winning the French open on 5 occasions, many had given him the title of the ‘king of clay’, writing him off as a senior contender on other surfaces when Nadal delivered a deafening blow to all his critics, as he proved to be an impregnable wall against
the all-time world champion in the 2008 Wimbledon final. What could be termed as the greatest match in the history of tennis, a match that lasted for 4 hours and 48 minutes, Rafael Nadal snatched the Wimbledon title from the firm clutches of Roger Federer,
who stood like a helpless bystander.
Just a little more than a year ago, the Spaniard found himself battling from knee problems, where he lost in the fourth round of the French Open, going on to miss the Wimbledon due to the tendinitis that was proving to be more than the little itch many
had hoped it would be. This same Rafa had to retire in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open against Andy Murray due to the persistent knee problem. To rub salt on an open wound, his parents went ahead with their divorce in the same year.
This fine young man, remained undeterred and with many critics writing it off as the end of the career for Spaniard, little did anybody know that eight months later this unstoppable perpetual motion machine would deride all his opponents to stand as the
lone ranger at the summit, as the champion of 3 Grand Slam singles titles, finishing the calendar year at the top.
One thing, about champions is that on their road to glory, they find themselves bracing failure on more than a single occasion, yet their grit, character and determination allows them to sail past them and emerge stronger than ever before. Despite having
ticked all the boxes in the tennis era, an achievement that was solely Federer’s before the Spaniard arrived, Nadal’s humility has been one of his most infectious personality traits that sets him apart from the rest.
Winning a total of 9 grand slam titles at the age of just 24, Nadal is already the champion and a leader. His persona is inspiring, his aura of exuberance is unmatched, his passion is unrelenting and his determination can be judged from the wrinkles of his
furrowed brows that make way for beads of perspiration as they splatter on the tennis court, with the champion ready to unleash the beast within.
Rafa is a magician, an inspiration and a leader on the court and off it having left his mark on history, a finely cut diamond gleaming from a distance.
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