Nadal leaves Tennis richer with his simplicity and humility besides his court craft

The emotions Rafael Nadal has sparked over the past few days around his farewell Davis Cup match reflect the awe, admiration and respect which he has been seen by players, organisers and fans alike. From friend and rival Roger Federer to football star David Beckham, from the French Open to Nike, from Spaniards to fans around the world, everyone is hailing him. The collection of Grand Slam titles, Olympic Games gold and other crowns tell their own stories – and so many have recounted these this week as Rafael Nadal bids farewell to competitive tennis. The endless hours that he spent on court belting tennis balls across the net and challenging opponents are undeniable testimony to his endurance and perseverance. 

The injuries, major and not-so-major, he suffered over the past 24 years gives us an indication of the strain he has put his body through. He perhaps epitomises the human’s ability to keep pushing the pain barrier higher and higher. More importantly, he has shown the power of the mind to overcome physical hardship and deliver memorable performances.

His on-court rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have thrilled – and divided – tennis fans over the past two decades. It will not be wrong to say that as time passes, the dignity and respect that the trio brought to competition as it pursued excellence will shine brighter than memories of some their matches.

And in Nadal’s case, the memories of his exploits will dull the more recent images of his extending his playing career a wee bit longer than his body may have allowed him, It will be easy to remember that he packed his craft with consistent and often times audacious strokes, his court coverage and his game sense as well as grit and determination.

When you recall that Novak Djokovic made an impassioned plea to Nadal to defy the march of time, you realise how much he meant to the very man he had so many battles with. “Don’t leave tennis, man. Stay with us,” the Serbian told Nadal only last month, aware that nothing would change the Spaniard’s mind. 

Over half a century of experiencing the charm of tennis, one has been influenced by, among others, the mercurial genius of John McEnroe, the ice-cool demeanour of Bjorn Borg, the calm of Pete Sampras, the busy bee approach of Andre Agassi, the magic of Roger Federer and the efficiency of Novak Djokovic. Nadal made his mark as the player who never gave up trying.

He said he has been lucky because life gave him the opportunity to live unforgettable experiences and that he was a kid that followed their dreams and achieved more than he had ever dreamt of. Truth to tell, he made his luck, drawing on the chances he got to excel in a sport that he so loved and has been a great ambassador of.

Nadal has said he wants to be remembered as a good person from a small village in Mallorca. It can be said that his wish has already come true. For, over the last 14 years, he has supported more than 2000 disadvantaged and marginalised boys and girls through the Rafael Nadal Foundation’s Nadal Education and Tennis School in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. 

He has touched the lives of people who have had no chance of watching him play in person but were destined to be glued to some digital screen or the other when he was showcasing his craft. The greatness of high performance athletes lies perhaps not so much in the memories they create on the field of play as in the legacy they leave for their respective sport.

I also remember him from the dining hall in the Athletes’ Village at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games earlier this year. He wore no airs, certainly not that of a super star achiever, as he waited patiently for his turn at the Asian counter and gracefully requesting the staff across the counter to serve him his choice of food. 

He would not decline conversation with anyone who sought to engage him while in the queue. From a few feet away, I could sense his hard-to-miss aura stemming from a combination of simplicity, humility, gratitude and kindness. These are the qualities that make Nadal the personality he is, bigger than his achievements obtained on tennis courts around the world.