Rafa, I believe in you!

Rafa being Rafa

I am feeling sick in my stomach. Seriously constipated. Is this really how you're supposed to feel when your favourite tennis player reach a Grand Slam Final? 

My heart and mind is battling over another Rafole showdown in this Australian Open 2012 Men's Final. Who'll win? Heart says Rafa and logic says the Djoker.  And why do I care so much over two men blasting a ball inside the lines of a rectangular box??  (that's another heart-to-heart conversation) 

Well, no one is betting against the Djoker and I see why-- he's not in human form ( too good, like the computer I'm against when I play Top Spin 4), doesn't get tired and even if he's tired-- he can still win (!!!!)  His desperate shot making is undeniable. But where does that confidence and grit come from? ( Want to know my wildest guess? I think he sold his soul to the devil lol)

I witnessed how this Djoker crushed Rafa for 6 consecutive times in the finals last season. And as a new Rafa fan at that time- it was hell of an initiation! With every loss to this one robot man, I felt the pain is getting harder for me to bear. The pain, I must admit, multiplied with every loss from the Djoker. So will it be 7 times greater after tonight? 

No matter what happens, I know I'd still be rooting for Rafa. My heart tells so. He always makes me feel that I am part of his battles: The fist-pumping for a hard fought winner, the I'm-not-letting-go-every-ball  attitude and all those dying-on-court moments-- always strike me in awe every time I watch him. As a spectator, all  I want to is be moved, be surprised, to believe in the impossible. When Rafa channels his inner Houdini, any thriller movie will lame in comparison.

Rafa constantly reminds me that hard work triumphs over natural talent: stars are made not born. He fought all adversity and prove them all wrong. He's not just a clay courter but learned to dominate other surfaces too. But tonight, more than anything, I hope that he'll carry on the belief  (the last potent ingredient to victor the Djoker) that he can achieve the seemingly impossibly task. He's too good of a fighter and a player not to win this. Rafa knows what to do, for sure ( Tio Toni to the rescue!), but the question is, can he overcome his nerves and nail it on break point or match point? 

Courage, my dear Rafa, courage! 

And so with all bravery (wearing my lucky green and blue combo I wore on his semis match), I shall watch the finals tonight, because I believe in Rafa.  

The Philosophy of Roller Coaster riding with Nadal

The highs and lows, they make the ride worthwile.

I like surprises, the plotted twists in a drama series and anything out of the ordinary that makes me wonder or doubt.  When everything is always calm, predictable and constant it leaves me bored and cold.


Perfection is what I've always aim for but that doesn't mean I don't push myself way too hard. I'm not afraid to crash and burn as long as I know that what I am doing is life changing, thus what is the point for setting goals if it's too achievable?


Reaching from point A to B to start with is fine but afterwards one would feel that reaching point C from B has become mediocre because it has been done before. Probably aiming to reach point G would take a grueling effort, but its worth the shot even if you don't reach that far because along the way you learn from mistakes and become tougher to dwell in difficult situations. 


For me, becoming the best in anything means you have to take risks. It's always inevitable to fail in life because without it you will never appreciate the sweetness that victory brings.


Roller coaster rides are designed to have high and low points so that the adrenalin rush remains pounding all the way through the ride.


If the ride goes in a linear fashion and way too close on the ground- where you feel safe and comfortable, there's no sense in riding it- better yet, sleep and conquer your fears while dreaming, it would be more exciting and be a better learning experience. 

Nadal, wiping the tears away on the side court.

 

This week so far was a hell of a roller coaster ride in the perspective of my favourite Rafael Nadal.  Of all contenders in the Australian Open he's got the biggest motivation to win the title. 4th Grand Slam in row would put him in Tennis history along with Rod Laver.

Losing a match with an injury that was only acquired in just the early minutes first set is totally devastating.  The hamstring injury was not the sole reason why he lost in three straight sets.  David Ferrer despite being no. 7 was rock solid and amazing that even if Rafa (being the no.1 player) was healthy,  it would have been a very gritty close fight. 

With that loss, I cannot help but feel sad as if the world has been torn into pieces and thrown in the fire. I was mourning, trying to fathom how can I lift my spirits then I thought carefully about what Rafa said after the match: 
  

"Last year I had a fantastic year. This year the year just start. Last year in the beginning I had problems, too, and finally was the best season of my career. I think is almost impossible to repeat that. But remain a lot, and remain a lot to have hopefully really good moments, and at the same time, too, really negative moments."

 

"So this is one of bad ones, one of negative moments. That’s part of the sport. I think I am very, very lucky sportsman about what happened in my career. And I have to accept the fantastic moments that I had during a lot of years with the same calm that when I have problems. And if I am ready to accept both things with I think let’s say everything the same, I going to be able to come back and play my best tennis another time."  

 Rafa remains humble in accepting his defeat and says it is just part of any sports career. He remains even grateful for what he has achieved so far and did not see this defeat as the end of his dream. For last year, he had faced a similar problem as early as January but afer that everything went boom- boom- boom: 3 grand slams in a row. 


He knows that the physical, emotional and mental conditions are never going to be perfect for anyone to win all the time-  just the same that he knows how to keep his foot on the ground. 


After every successful battle, his hard work never stops from there. For him life goes on, being on top is continuous work, not just a result of overnight success. 


His staying power will be there for a long time because accepts everything, good or bad, just the same- that his accomplishments never gets stuck in his head where others would have been so over confident; and that this deafeated moment will not hinder him from rising up again where others would have chosen to quit or sulk all the time.  


This is why I love Rafael Nadal. 


On the court he is fierce, bold and agressive. He always play to win, make shots that are seemingly impossible and pound the ball with enormous strength.


Its like watching a matador run for his life in a bull fight. Passion and excitement is the flavour he brings on the court, that even a non tennis fan like me converted got to the tennis bandwagon last year.


There's nothing wrong in playing with so much gusto, although I must say, with the way he plays I'm also worried that he will attract injuries along the way. Not all bodies, as we all know, are perfectly designed to suit agressive play. Good thing he keeps coping with the one he has.


He's taking accountability and not using it as a primary excuse for his losses.  I like that he is stubborn- willing to move in top speed mentally, even if at times his body does not follow through. 


He risks with everything he's got not withstanding the toll on his body. But unlike ordinary folks, he's not afraid to play even if the chances of losing is close to 90% and  that's the courage I've seen in his match vs. Ferrer. He didn't quit even if he knows he will lose from the time his thigh muscle was injured.


Yeah, he takes us on roller coaster rides but beneath that strong persona lies a calm and humble soul with a wisdom that speaks volumes, that even his less than perfect English is enough to make his point across. 

Rafael Nadal, My Inspiration

Nadal, the new ass body of Armani

Artists create art from inspiration.


And although I am not an artist I seek for inspiration from the world that is above and around me.


The only difference that I have from a painter or a photographer is that I don't imitate on a canvass or capture through the lens the beauty that is in front of me. Rather, I look in depth, seek what makes them amazing and try to learn from them.  


Rafael Nadal was one of those few people that made my jaw draw drop when I first saw him playing on hard court.

He possesses an intensity so engaging to watch. If he was playing against me I would be intimidated by this graceful court mover but at the same time admire him too for making me play my best or worse.  


A year ago I did not at all fancy tennis, but when I saw him damage his opponent, I cannot help but root for this Spaniard Stallion who refuses to give up. It's like I had an epiphany. After seeing Rafael Nadal's short stint in the Australian Open 2010, I had a sudden spark of interest in tennis. My friends and I tried playing it on court occasionally. 


Playing is fun but quite a struggle for an inexperienced body that I have. The important thing is I was able to built that respect for professional tennis players after trying it out for myself. 

 2nd round last January 20 at the  Australian Open

If not for Rafael Nadal tennis would forever look like a dry sport, to my eyes.I believe that it is the great players that bring the life and passion out of any sport. Remove the players and the court is cold and flat, very one dimensional. 


The world's no. 1 tennis player is here on Australian soil with hopes still alive of winning a 4 straight grandslam. 

He has everything at stake but he remains a humble soul. I find it amazing that his demeanor changes everytime he steps outside the court and talks about his success.


Fierce on the court but very poised out of it. He doesn't boast about how good he is, instead he is generous on praises he gives to his defeated opponents. For Nadal, every match is like the last one, he plays as if he has everything to lose. He is always in the moment, never missing a beat. 


However, sometimes I worry that he gives too much and it may have a drawback on him.


But I was wrong, he is a firing machine that never runs out of bullets. Yesterday in the 4th round against Marin Cilic, Rafael Nadal chased a ball so near to the net that seems so impossible to recover but he hit it suavely back to the opponent's side and outwitted Cilic.That was just in the first set and yet he dived for the ball as much as he could.

            Every ball is an opportunity

Physicality is his strongest asset but more than that, his mentality is also in best shape. 


Nothing can bring him down for that long, even if down by 4 games last Saturday with a match against Bernard Tomic, Rafael Nadal used his frustration to climb back and win that set. 


His mind never rests on his record breaking successes. He goes on, play, analyse his mistakes and works on them to overcome his weaknesses and improve his game. 


There is no secret to Rafael Nadal's success, you can easily see why he is one of the best sportsman to date, he always stays hungry and that's what I want to apply in my life.