World Number two Rafael Nadal is the most disciplined tennis player on the tour. He is the only professional who bears immense self-control. Once he hangs his boots, Nadal wants to be remembered as a ‘good human being’. And a player with utmost discipline.
“In the future, I do not want to be remembered as a tennis player who won numerous titles, but to has left a good example for boys and girls,” Nadal said.
“This is my only objective, then winning or losing is part of the sport in general. If one thing I wish I could say that I have done well is that I have transmitted positive things on and off a track. That makes me very satisfied with my part.”
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No matter how worse the situation in the match is, Rafa just contemplates on ‘each point’. He certainly sends a message to the younger generations via all his matches.
“The example is not the comeback” – Rafael Nadal on his epic victory
For instance, at ATP Finals 2019, Nadal was 5-1 and match points down in the third set against Daniil Medvedev. The ATP warrior made an epic comeback to beat the Russian 6-7, 6-3, 7-6. And later he mentioned ‘the example is not the comeback.’
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He was on the edge of his defeat but he shared that the young kids have to learn from his positivity and patience, rather than admiring his ‘comeback’.
“In my opinion, the example is not the comeback, because the comeback is — of course you need to be there and you need to keep fighting. But the example, in my opinion, is not break a racquet when you are 5-1 in the third or not be out of your self-control when things are not going the right way,” Nadal stated in London.
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Even during the US Open 2019 finals, Nadal was in big trouble in the final set. But patiently playing each point and giving his best at each instant, the Spaniard lifted his 19th Slam. And this is what he wants the younger generation to assimilate from his tennis.
On Sunday, Rafael Nadal won the title in Acapulco and became the youngest and oldest champion of the tournament. At present, he is preparing for the Indian Wells 2020 in California, USA.