Passion, strength and never giving up: Nadal’s enduring qualities are a lesson for everyone | Rafael Nadal

IIn the days before this year’s French Open began, Rafael Nadal’s view of his future seemed to have changed. The early months of 2024 were some of the toughest of his career as he attempted to return to the court after a series of injuries resulted in significant hip surgery last year. When he finally returned to the clay in Barcelona after an initial false start, Nadal repeatedly claimed that he was still struggling physically and that his main motivation for competing was simply to say goodbye to his home crowd. He lost in the second round.

But according to Roland Garros, just a few weeks later that pessimism had been replaced by a striking amount of hope. Nadal finally felt like he could perform at a high level. After so many months away, he also seemed to enjoy simply being a professional tennis player, from daily training to traveling with his family. Asked to confirm whether this year would be his final French Open appearance, Nadal offered his non-committal answer: “Let’s explore,” Nadal said with a laugh. “I don’t want to create a lot of confusion, but I enjoy what I do. Sorry.”

Those hopeful moments turned out to be fleeting. A few days later, the 38-year-old succumbed to Alexander Zverev in a brutal first-round draw, losing in three tight sets. Nadal had spent months doing everything he could to be ready for both the French Open and the Olympic Games, but just days before the Olympic Games started at Roland Garros, Nadal suffered a thigh injury. He lost badly to Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Although Nadal insisted on taking his time and thinking about his future before making a final decision, the outcome seemed clear. At the age of 38, after so many injuries and so many miles, his body was clearly unable to handle the intensity of professional tennis for any length of time and was screaming for him to stop. In recent years, these injuries have also begun to threaten his lifestyle off the field, his ability to play with his son, compete recreationally in the other sport he loves, golf, or simply just play without pain. to walk. This is the time to fully enjoy the life that his success has built for himself.

In many ways, this is not the ending one of the greatest tennis players in history deserves. He has spent his last years in constant pain, rarely competing without limitations and unable to even lift himself up for one last dazzling singles performance. But like Andy Murray’s departure, instead of a fairytale, he ends his career with something more authentic and true.

Despite all the injuries, Nadal’s motivation and passion for the sport have never diminished. He arrived on the tour with a reputation for giving his all at every point until the bitter end, and this is the lesson he leaves behind for generations to come. Nadal played until he couldn’t play anymore and as a result he showcased his talents for over twenty years.

Around 2002, as American hegemony on the ATP tour came to an end, the narrative from some quarters was that men’s tennis was in free fall, dominated by nameless European players unable to match the charisma of the to evoke stars of yesteryear. Instead, Nadal’s rivalry with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic took tennis to new heights.

On the court, Nadal has undeniably transformed the game. The violent, strong spin with which he hits the ball was revolutionary in itself. Today, as string technology continues to develop, countless players have been influenced by his playing style and have even managed to replicate Nadal’s spin rate, but Nadal’s forehand remains completely dominant and unique.

Meanwhile, Nadal is a much more nuanced figure than his reputation suggests. Nadal is known for his passion, fire and fight, but no other player shows so much self-control on the court. During his practice sessions, Nadal could become irritable and frustrated when he failed to meet his own perfectionist standards, but the moment he entered the fray, his mentality changed.

No matter how poorly he performed, he remained calm, focused on every single point with his utmost intensity, and refused to let his emotions derail him. Nadal’s physicality and strength are two of his defining qualities, but at the same time he is one of the most cerebral players on tour, always looking for solutions and adapting his tactics in search of victory.

Although Nadal’s talents were overwhelming from the start when he won Roland Garros on his tournament debut in 2005, his career was also defined by his determination to continually improve in all areas. After losing consecutive Wimbledon finals to Federer, Nadal had to reshape his game to topple Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, one of the greatest sporting spectacles of all time, and finally realize his dream of winning at the All England Club. While his speed began to decline with age, his command of the net played a major role in his late-career success.

Because Nadal suffered numerous injuries during his youth, the widespread belief was that his game was simply too physical for his body and that he would likely burn out prematurely. He has repeatedly noted that such views were so widespread that at one point he even began to believe that his career would be short-lived. Instead, he will end his career after two decades of sustained greatness that have marked him as by far the greatest clay court player and one of the very best tennis players of all time.