Rafa Nadal «The number one in excellence» English & Spanish (El mundo Orbyt 7/11/2013)

  Once again, I’m here trying to tell you something about Rafa that you don’t know. His match wins this week in London at the ATP Championships secure his finish in 2013 as number 1 in the world.  For me the real headline is “The number one in excellence.”  Why excellence? Because the final ranking says Rafa is # 1 in terms of ranking points, but I believe he is # 1 in terms of excellence because he is the most resilient, the leader in men’s tennis in terms of his passion, his mental dedication, his physical skill and stamina, and in how he projects himself on and off the court.  Also because of his uninterrupted professionalism, generosity, and even humility.  This level of excellence is all the more notable because he is playing in a Golden Age of tennis, against amazing competitors.  And beyond ranking points, based on all those other criteria, Rafa is the ONE.  Excellence personified.

Rafa’s is now a unique story about the journey of a champion. One player that makes it to the top of the pyramid. He had to work really hard, training for hours and years, drills and more drills, pushing his physical abilities.  On the way up he developed the technique, learned how to compete, extended his physical abilities, and strengthened his inner engine. Traveling across continents and time zones, and still pushing harder.  Many can have a good year or two, touch the trophies, and receive the glory.   But wise people always say “It may be difficult to arrive but it is much more difficult to stay.” Everyone fights for that spot, they improve, you relax, they beat you and one day the fall starts. You lose faith, you cannot recover your passion, you spiral down, the losses mount, and everything ends.

When you start to lose, only the chosen ones find the motivation to come back.  The very best and greatest of the game: Laver and Sampras.  Rafa was atop the game in 2008, but lost his position in 2009.  Several  reasons – personal and physical – made him vulnerable.  A year later, he broke past those barriers, overcame them and overcame Federer to regain the # 1 spot in 2010.  2011 and 2012 were Djokovic’s years, with Murray also in the race.  Rafa began losing, he had injuries.  Everyone began asking, will he come back?  Is he weaker?  Can he come back?  Does he have the strength, the tools and the passion to come back, having already achieved so much, with so much competition in the game?  In 2013 not only did Rafa come back, but he dramatically reworked his stance and court position on his forehand to take pressure off his problematic left knee.   Moving further into the court, Rafa now hits his forehand leaning into his right knee, rather than off his left knee from the back of the court.  As he is taking the ball earlier, his forehand is now more aggressive, raising his game to yet another level.  Rafa changed his circumstances and turned it to his advantage – he found a way to come back stronger and more aggressive, and bring himself back to his natural habitat, being number one.  No one in history has done it three times. He said this week in London “This has been by far my best year.”  It’s easy to look back and see it now, but a year ago, only Rafa believed, perhaps some fans hoped.  Rafa is so extraordinary and so humble, it’s almost expected.  But it shouldn’t be – nor should it be taken for granted.  He is one of the most extraordinary athletes in history.  We get to enjoy it.  And say thank you.  Just as he is always thanking his fans and praising his competitors.

Rafa Nadal, numero uno por excelencia

Una vez más aquí estoy intentando contaros algo que no sepáis de Rafa. Acaba de conseguir ponerse el número 1, pero para mí el título de la película seria “el número uno por excelencia”, y además ya la hemos visto varias veces. Porque por excelencia? porque lo dice el ranking, porque además lo es en resiliencia, en espíritu, en pasión, en físico, en cabeza, en como transmite, en espejo, en ejemplo…. Podríamos estar aquí resaltando, factores, valores y no tendríamos suficientes paginas para describirlo. Es el UNO.

Y lo que os quiero contar hoy es referente a las trayectorias de los deportistas. Un jugador que llega al vértice de la pirámide ha tenido que escalar muy duro, muchas horas de repeticiones, ha debido depurar su técnica, su táctica, su físico, su mente, su interior, un camino difícil que al final tiene premio, llegar arriba de todo, a la meta. Pero como dicen los sabios; “Es difícil llegar pero más mantenerse” todos luchan por ese lugar, con ello  mejoran, tú te quedas, te ganan, llega un día que empieza el declive y poco a poco pierdes ilusión, pasión y vas para abajo, al final te vuelves perdedor y ahí se acaba.

Cuando empiezas a perder, solo los elegidos consiguen motivarse y encontrar la fórmula para volver, como Sampras, Laver… Rafa después de conseguir el número uno en el 2008, volvió a perder su posición en el 2009, diversas circunstancias le hicieron bajar su nivel, pero volvió a romper los moldes, se superó a sí mismo, a su rival Federer y lo recuperó en el 2010.  En el 2011 y 2012 apareció el mejor  Djokovic, Murray subió su nivel, Rafa perdió y además se lesionó, parecía que no volvería, el tenis estaba herido sin él, pero la vida continuaba, todos nos preguntábamos si se habría vuelto vulnerable? Podría volver al mismo nivel? Tendría fuerzas? En el 2013 No solo volvió, sino que además ganó a la adversidad, cambió su juego, compenso el no poder usar su pierna de apoyo al 100% le hizo más agresivo, mejor jugador, más ganador y volvió a su hábitat, al número uno, su lugar natural. Nadie en la historia consiguió antes volver tres veces a la cima.  El mismo lo comentaba ayer “ Esta es la temporada mejor de mi vida” No me extraña Rafa, tu premio es estar donde te mereces. Ahora es fácil mirar atrás y verlo, solo tú te lo creíste, encontraste la manera  y ahí estas. Disfrútalo y gracias.

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