Imago
Mar 16, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Rafael Nadal (ESP) reacts after winning a point as he defeats Reilly Opelka (USA) in the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Imago
Mar 16, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Rafael Nadal (ESP) reacts after winning a point as he defeats Reilly Opelka (USA) in the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It takes a lot to become the best of the best. There go many ingredients in the making of a champion player. Take the example of the Spanish legend, Rafael Nadal. He has been at the top of his game for around 20 years now. Further, along with talent and on-court performances, it takes great mental strength to overcome difficult moments. It is natural to have ups and downs over the career. But, it is the mental strength that plays a primary role to enable us to rise when things aren’t going our way.
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The Spaniard has bounced back from numerous career-threatening injuries. Further, at this year’s Australian Open, he displayed tremendous fighting spirit and defiance as he came from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the finals. Recently, tennis legend, Chris Evert, praised the Spaniard’s mental strength.
Chris Evert wants young players to follow the footsteps of Rafael Nadal
The 18-time women’s singles Grand Slam winner took to Twitter to express awe of Nadal’s mental ability. She said, “Wow… every aspiring young player should read this…”
Wow… every aspiring young player should read this… https://t.co/5WdCYTirVS
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 21, 2022
Earlier, Nadal, speaking about his mental state during the matches, said, “What I battle hardest in the tennis match is to quiet the voices within. To shut everything out but the contest itself. To concentrate every atom of my being on the point I am playing. If I make a mistake on the prior point, let it go. Should a thought of victory arise, crush it.”
Further, he added, “During a match, you are in a permanent battle to fight back your everyday vulnerabilities, bottle up your human feelings. The more bottled up they are, the greater your chances of winning, so long as you’ve trained as hard as you play and the gap in talent is not too wide between you and your rival.”
Taking Federer’s example, Nadal said, “The gap in talent with Federer existed, but it was not impossibly wide. It was narrow enough, even on his favorite surface in the tournament he played best, for me to know that if I silenced the doubts and fears, and exaggerated hopes, inside my head better than he did, I could beat him.”
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INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Roger Federer of Switzerland shakes hands at the net after his straight sets victory against Rafael Nadal of Spain in their fourth round match during day ten of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Nadal’s best start to the season ever
Nadal is having a scintillating season thus far, winning all but one match this season. Entering the Indian Wells final, the Spaniard was on a 20-match winning streak. He won Melbourne Summer Set, Australian Open, and Mexican Open titles before arriving in the Californian desert. In the final at BNP Paribas Open, Taylor Fritz snapped Nadal’s unbeaten run, thereby shattering his hopes of winning his 37th Masters 1000 title.
WATCH THIS STORY: The Greatest Comebacks in Tennis
The Spaniard will skip the Miami Open. However, he will be determined to continue his great form this year in the upcoming clay-court season.
Written by
Edited by
Niranjan Deodhar