This week, Rafa Nadal published a letter on the web The Players Tribune titled ‘The Gift’, in which he reviews the most exciting moments he has experienced throughout his incredible career, in which he has 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 Roland Garros.
© GTRESTaking stock of his career, it is inevitable to talk about injuries, which have been a real ordeal for him: “I was injured when I was 17 years old and they told me that I would probably never play professional tennis again. (…) It’s not just a small fissure in the foot, it is a disease, there is no cure, only treatment. It is Mueller-Weiss syndrome (…) I spent many days at home crying, but it was a great lesson in humility and I was lucky to have it. a family that has always been and is very close to me in everything and above all my father, the true influence that I have had in my life, who was always very positive: We will find a solution, he said. And if not, there are other things in life apart from tennis (…) After a lot of pain, surgeries, rehabilitation and tears, a solution was found, and during all these years I was able to resist.”
© GTRESThe Mallorcan tennis player remembers his first steps on the professional circuit and the important lesson he learned when he was only 12 years old: “I think I was about 12 years old. I loved going fishing (…) One day I went fishing, when I could I had been training and the next day I lost my match (…) My uncle Toni, who at that young age had a great influence on me and was the one who made me fall in love with tennis, told me: It’s okay, it’s just a tennis match. Don’t cry now, it doesn’t make sense. If you want to fish, you can fish. No problem. But then you will lose. What if you want to win? If you want to win, first things first. “It was a very important lesson for me.”
© Getty ImagesAnother of the moments that Rafa keeps most fondly is when he was able to meet his idol, Carlos Moyá, who in recent years has been his coach. He was from Mallorca, number one, and was able to play with him for a few minutes: “It was an unforgettable experience, a window to another world. For me, tennis was going from being just a diversion to being a real goal. It made me dream a little more: A one day, maybe I can play at Roland-Garros…“.
© rafaelnadalThe tennis player from Manacor reveals which are his most special trophies: “The Davis Cup in 2004, Roland Garros in 2005, of course Wimbledon in 2008. (…) There are so many! I have many incredible memories. However, you can never stop trying. You can never relax. You always have to improve. That has been the constant in my life: Always push the limits and improve.”
© Getty ImagesThe racket legend confesses that he got nervous before each match: “Before a match, I went to bed feeling like I could lose (…) When you go out on the court, anything can happen, therefore, all your senses must being very alert. That feeling of inner fire, the nerves, the adrenaline of going out and seeing a full court, is a very difficult feeling to describe. It is a feeling that only a few can understand and I am sure that it will never be the same now. that I am retiring as a professional. There will still be. moments of playing exhibitions and maybe also time for other sports. I will always compete and try to do my best, but it will not be the same feeling.
© Getty ImagesRafa also reveals one of the most difficult moments of his career: “I went through a very difficult time, mentally, a few years ago. Physical pain was something I was very used to, but there were times on the court when I had problems control my breathing and I couldn’t play at my best level. (…) Fortunately, I didn’t get to the point of not being able to control things like anxiety, but all players go through moments of difficulty controlling their mind (… ). What I am most proud of, despite having fought, it’s because I never gave up, I always gave my best.
© Getty ImagesRafa Nadal assures that he has never felt like a Superman, not even in his best moments. “I always tried to treat others with deep respect. This was my parents’ golden rule. As a child, my father always told me: Look around you and observe the people you admire, how they treat others (. ..) I took that lesson with me to every game I played. I was not driven by hatred for my rivals, but by deep respect and admiration. I was simply trying to improve a little to be able to keep up with them. But I tried! .(…) For more than 30 years, I have given everything I could to this sport. In return, I received joy and happiness, love and friendship, and much more.