The Unbeatable Rafael Nadal Spirit

21 Grand Slam titles. Just pause for a moment and reflect on that remarkable achievement, which Rafael Nadal secured after his exhilarating win against Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open. Just when everyone thought he was beaten, trailing by two sets and facing three break points, the Spaniard was given just a four per cent chance of winning. Nevertheless, like a bruised and battered heavyweight boxer, he wiped away the sweat and the pain, then came out swinging again.

First there was a stunning drop shot from Nadal which caught Medvedev off his guards, unable to respond and now starting to sense the ferocity emanating from the other side of the net. Then the Russian mistimed a backhand return and his rival gained just a little more breathing space, before unleashing the full force of his fightback, and the crowd responded in kind. That was the moment the tide had turned and become a tsunami, carrying the Spaniard along with it and into the history books.

The result and what it signified for Nadal will undoubtedly be regarded as his greatest accomplishment, amidst glowing praise and tributes from Djokovic and his tennis peers, especially given the circumstances of his comeback. Not just the victory itself and the almost superhuman level of determination, but also the recovery of a player who had been blighted by injury over the previous year, even pondering himself whether he would be able to continue competing at the highest level. After winning in Melbourne and having been presented with the iconic Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, this fear was even mentioned by Nadal himself.

“This is just amazing. Being honest, just one month and a half ago, I didn’t know if I would be back on the tour and playing tennis again. And today I am here in front of all of you having this trophy with me, and you really don’t know how much I fought to be here.” Those words highlighted how tough the last several months had been, attempting to recover from a foot injury that had ended his 2021 campaign prematurely. They embodied the personal doubts about his health and fitness, rising to become thoughts that maybe his career had reached its end.

During the same trophy acceptance speech in Melbourne, there was also a slight hit that concluding his magnificent career was more than just a passing thought. “Maybe there was a chance that’s going to be my last Australian Open,” revealed Nadal after a huge cheer from the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena. “But now that’s plenty of energy to keep going. I really can’t explain the feelings I have right now, but I’ll keep trying my very best to come back next year,” he ended, as the crowd rose to give Nadal a rousing and richly deserved ovation.

Soon, between Sunday 22 May and Sunday 5 June, fans of the Spaniard will hope to see another display of his unbeatable courage. Nadal is already tipped to succeed at what is widely acknowledged as his most cherished of Grand Slam tournaments, outright odds for the 2022 French Open has fallen firmly in his favour. This even comes regardless of Djokovic being the reigning 2021 champion at Roland Garros, now able to defend his title after all the controversy surrounding him in Melbourne, preventing his participation at the Australian Open.

Knowing which two players the media attention will be drawn to, isn’t hard to predict. Nadal and Djokovic will be under the full glare of the cameras, their every move analysed and scrutinised, any signs of weakness dissected by commentators. Both are supremely talented individuals, although succumbing to pressure cost Djokovic his chance to claim the record for Grand Slams in Flushing Meadows last year, while Nadal rose to the occasion in Australia. Despite all the obstacles and seemingly on the cusp of defeat in Melbourne, the Spaniard proved yet again that while his body and shots can be broken, nobody will ever break his unbeatable spirit.

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