Rafael Nadal: The Motivation We all Looking For!

In this contemporary world of 21 st century it’s not very difficult to find some motivation to do great things in life. Many people are doing things that have not been done before and with the availability of knowledge about these events and these people through print and social media it’s not a rare thing to get affected by some great achievements. Although we, socially sick and technologically advanced people, get motivated very quickly yet it usually doesn’t last long. But there are some people of extraordinary talent and potential who have been doing things in some peculiar fashion for so long that they have cemented their place both in our mind and heart to act as a stimulus for us in life whenever we want to achieve something. The name of Rafael Nadal is at the very top of the list of such individuals.
At the start of 2017 who thought that in October Rafael Nadal would be World’s no.1 and would have won 2 Majors, 2 ATP 1000 and 2 ATP 500. Even the diehard Rafa fans (including me) didn’t think of events the way they happened. When Rafa started his 2017 in Brisbane and lost in the Quarter final to Milos Raonic, we all thought that things would be same as they were in 2015 and 2016 but it wasn’t long before Rafael Nadal defied all the odds and reached the Australian Open Final; his first Major final since Roland Garros 2014. Although Rafa lost the final to his greatest rival Roger Federer (What a 2017 it has been for him as well) but it was Rafa’s biggest achievement in more than two years. His injury layoff in the latter half of 2016 was something that fans took to the heart and they were not very much excited about 2017 till Rafa’s heroics in the Aussies Open. Rafa didn’t stop there and reached another final in the Mexico Open but he lost that final as well. Still no trophy in 2017 but it was more than encouraging for both Rafa and his fans that Rafa was again challenging for the titles.
In the American summer campaign, Rafa lost to Roger Federer both at Indian Wells and Miami Open. At that point it seemed that Rafa’s game had improved and all he was lacking was the confidence. But as the Clay season started, Rafa turned around the things, won his first title of the year and 10 th overall in Monte Carlo, then added another in Barcelona where the Centre Court was named after him (What an achievement) and then completed La Decima in the Roland Garrros. Clay season was the confidence booster for Rafa and being able to win another Major after a wait of almost 3 years was nothing less than a miracle but Rafa’s firm belief and his never-give- up attitude made it happen. After Roland Garros, Rafa participated in Wimbledon and was seeded 4 th . Rafa’s chances were very thin and most of the critic predicted an early exit for Rafa. Rafa started his Wimbledon campaign with very sound performance and eventually reached the 4 th Round without dropping a set. But Rafa lost to G.Muller in an epic 5 setter. It was on the card but it wasn’t something that Rafa and his fans expected after his fabulous start of 2017. But Rafa kept moving and that what enabled him to overpower his defeats and to achieve success.
Rafa reclaimed the World’s no.1 spot after almost three years but his performances were quite poor both in Montreal and Cincinnati. Rafa entered into the US Open as World’s no.1 but wasn’t favourite for the title. Rafa started things very nicely and it wasn’t long before Rafa was facing Jaun Martin Del potro in the semis. Rafa kept his cool and defeated the big serving Argentinian and finally won the US Open, his second Major of the year, after beating Kevin Anderson. And today, Rafa lifted his 6 th trophy of 2017 when he defeated Nick Kyrgios in the China Open final, his first China Open title since 2005.
What we learn from Rafa’s 2017 is simple in a way yet very difficult to comprehend in another way. It’s not the extraordinary things that people do rather it’s their strength to overpower their fears and to keep on doing extraordinary things for a very long time. Rafa’s mental strength has always overcome his physical injuries, his on-court attitude has always defeated his off-court issues, when he’s on the court, no matter what kind of injury he’s having or what kind of problem he’s facing, he gives his 100%. Life has brought him down many times but every time he has stood up and every time he has done it better than the last time. And that’s something we call motivational. Vamos Rafa!