Richard Evans recently mentioned a less known story about
Rafael Nadal in his latest article:
Marc Lopez, Rafa’s close friend who played doubles with Nadal
on Wednesday night, smashed a racket when the pair were playing a doubles match
here a couple of years ago. At practice the next day, Nadal told Lopez, “Don’t
ever do that again or we won’t play together anymore.”Lopez looked at him as if
he was joking. “No, I’m serious,” Rafa shot back. “Don’t ever do it again.”
After I read Evans’ article, I did a quick Google search on
players who have broken racquets in their career. Yes, Yes, everyone including
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, John Mcenroe have all had their
share of anger management issues in the past! Currently Ryan Harrison- the future prodigy
is no exception.
But one name which stands out amongst all these is Rafael
Nadal. I did more research on him and found out never once Rafa has broken a
racquet. Nadal is known for his game, stamina, determination but I think one
quality which has never gained that much attention in the media is his ability
to control his emotions on court. As per Uncle Toni:
“Nadal has never broken a racquet. It would be showing a
lack of respect to people who actually have to buy the equipment to play the
sport “
The player who plays with so much intensity is an excellent
example for all those who are unable to control their emotions. How did this
happen: Uncle Toni is the man responsible behind this impeccable quality of Rafael Nadal.
As per Richard Evans: Toni Nadal, essentially told a 6 year old Nadal, “You
throw one racket and I’m no longer your coach. There are millions of kids in the
world who would love a racket and don’t have one.”
In today’s world where anger is becoming a major issue,
Nadal is an inspiring example to all the kids who watch tennis and aspire to
become the future Federer/Nadal/Djokovic! Even if we are fans of Federer,
Djokovic, Murray or anyone else- think about this example as a neutral tennis
fan and if your kid is watching tennis: Whom would you want him/her to emulate?
Honestly, there is no better example than Nadal for the above!
Compared to the Harrisons of today, Safins/Mcenroe’s of
yesteryears, this Spaniard is a living proof that in tennis, greatness can also
be achieved by looking within yourself and setting an example for the society.
Yes, Nadal is known for a lot of qualities but for me this quality very well
defines the kind of personality he has. Determined, mentally tough, brilliant
player but above all a humble Rafa who respects not only his fellow players but
also people out there who don’t have resources to buy a racquet.
I will be back in my next article talking about his other
qualities but right now for me Rafael Nadal stands right at the top when it
comes to the following:
Most of us would have reacted to disappointment the way
Harrison did. Being a pro means making yourself, at a psychological level, into
an exception.- Steve Tignor
And Rafael Nadal is an exception- No doubt about it!
If you have any questions- You can mail me at apekshaha@gmail.com, http://twitter.com/#!/ApekshaHA or http://on.fb.me/pouTOy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyLXxDeM8tA&list=FLYrFqxp6Zx6T9CVrN6k5MNA&feature=mh_lolz
ReplyDeleteHere's Nadal trying to break his racket. You're welcome!
He barely hit it on the court. Not even close to breaking it!!!!!
DeleteHe didn't break one here.Notice the grip too- with that motion one can never break a racquet! Unlike everyone else, who hit it in a way so that it gets broken. The point here is not to take sides but to inspire youngsters to learn from Nadal!
DeleteAs I said, I can understand you can be fans of Federer, Djokovic and Federer/Djokovic too have their own admirable qualities! But one should read this as a neutral tennis fan!Amongst all the superstars, I think Nadal has been the most emotionally stable player throughout his career!
Emotionally stable? Hardly. I'm not saying he's an angry player, but he is constantly grimacing on court and gesturing wildly if things don't go his way. If anybody's emotionally stable, it's Federer.
DeleteBut the entire point is that he hit his racket out of frustration. That's an act of aggression, whatever the intention. He's still a great player and has never thrown his racket during an actual match, but that still doesn't make him the most emotionally stable player in any way. Djokovic throws his racket all the time, but Roger has done it maybe twice in his very very long career. Besides that, he stays calm and controlled, never with a grimace on his face and never looking up to his box.
Federer over the years have become a lot calmer. But Federer was a hot tempered player in his youth. He has broken a lot of racquets then. In his own words:
DeleteIt's been a while (since I smashed a racquet).
People don't remember me from 10, 12 years ago. They only remember me from sort of seven, eight years ago where I never threw a racquet,". The last time Federer broke a racquet was in 2009.
So if you see Nadal who has never broken a racquet even in his youth- it's really commendable! Big part of being emotionally stable is to be able to control your emotions and not show angry outbursts or racquet breaking tantrums in stressful conditions. And Nadal has never done it once!
lol. Nadal said "Sampras match. or one between those kind of players, is not enjoyable. It's not really tennis. a few swings of the racquet. For me in the past it was just serve"
Deletearrogant smug
Clay excluded. Successive win 0. If grass and a hard court are fast. Like Sampras era. Nadal is able to win only with clay. Nadal is the power tennis of defense and muscles. boring. ugly. All the surface is slow now
Fake time-out. cheater. ugly gamesmanship. too noisy and annoying always. excuse for injury or sick or tired. lways exaggerated annoying information of self condition. ugly protest. etc.
arrogant annoying blind fan. like this. really sick.
Oh, sorry. And, EGO. selfish. sucks two-year-ranking. smug Nadal
DeleteHe is not only humble but handsome innocently
ReplyDeleteanonymous sure has a tooth to grind against rafa who can't find grace in his eyes! even with such a great article!
ReplyDeletegood article from federer fan. very motivational and inspired. If you think for others than you will be always successful in your life.
ReplyDeleteNadal doesn't break racquets in front of the public. He does it privately. It's just as bad and goes against what Toni told him. http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/ticker.aspx?articleid=15429&zoneid=6
ReplyDeleteFair Point. But the fact that he has never done it in open is the point I want to drive here! What he does inside in front of his team is a different matter. Everyone gets angry and Nadal is also a human being after all. He has all the rights to do what he wants to do in private to take out his frustration.
DeleteWhat example he sets for the millions of kids/youngsters who watch him play day in an out is the most important thing! Even Federer who was a hot headed youth followed on the similar footsteps and now we rarely see him break racquets in open (last one was in 2009). But he breaks a few of them in his practice! Does that makes him a bad role model- I don't think so!
Similarly Nadal has never ever once done this in public which I guess in itself is a great achievement! Nobody even Federer, Djokovic has been unable to control their emotions!
Even without following your link I can safely assume you're linking to Gaudio saying Rafa smashed six of his racquets. Rafa has firmly denied that and said Gaudio is just joking like he usually does. Rafa again reiterated that he has never broken a racquet in his life, on the court or in the locker room. I believe Rafa.
DeleteBjorn Borg also had this distinction, I think. He never broke any racquet.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe he does not break a racquet...and you said he as an example for kids....I wonder, how can possible be an role model if he breaks every rule existent (written or not) in tennis. Come on, I think you have to see the hole picture before saying he is a greaat one (role model for kids)
ReplyDeleteHe is a role model in terms of breaking a racquet and controlling bad emotions to produce a good result! And I like the fact that he has respect for those people who cannot afford their own racquets!
DeleteAnd plus, there are certain good and bad qualities in a certain player including Federer,Djokovic etc.I believe all of them are extremely inspiring and motivating for kids in their own special way! And good qualities should always be highlighted as a neutral tennis fan!
Even Djokovic/Federer admire other players where it's well deserved!
lol. Nadal's arrogant annoying blind fan. as always. Nadal said "Sampras match. or one between those kind of players, is not enjoyable. It's not really tennis. a few swings of the racquet. For me in the past it was just serve"
ReplyDeletearrogant smug
Clay excluded. Successive win 0. If grass and a hard court are fast. Like Sampras era. Nadal is able to win only with clay. Nadal is the power tennis of defense and muscles. boring. ugly. All the surface is slow now
Fake time-out. cheater. ugly gamesmanship. too noisy annoying always. excuse for injury or sick or tired. lways exaggerated annoying information of self condition. ugly protest. etc.
arrogant annoying blind fan. sucks
you are clearly a dimwit. you would not find one professional player or even a lines person that would agree with you. As far as I can tell you are either blind or you don't know who you are watching. as a matter of fact who needs to defend Rafa to someone like you. I have watched him do I can really say you are just plain S-T-U-P-I-D.
Deletehey i am a federer fan myself and some of the things nadal had done oncourt does not really set an example for the kids but as far as this article is concerned nadal has been prety good in handling his anger.thats one of his qualities and am sure there are many more.but those timeouts were clearly fake at times.
ReplyDelete