A tribute to Rafael Nadal: Can one man really do all this?
How does one even begin a tribute to Rafael Nadal? There are several ways you can go about it. You can either talk about his achievements or you can talk about what he represented. We opted for a mixture of both, showcasing his achievements and what he stood for through a series of questions. These are the questions.
Is it truly possible to play every single point the same way? To be more precise, is it possible to approach every point with the same mindset? To bring the same mentality to each one? Is that achievable if you've played roughly 260,000 points in your career? Is it, first and foremost, even possible to be that kind of person? Can you step onto the court every single time with a positive attitude?
Is it possible to leave your personal troubles behind every time you play? Can you give your whole self to the game in every match? Is it even conceivable to consistently want to do that, to always be motivated to do it? Can you play each point with the same intensity? Can you pour yourself into every single one? Can you "go for it" on every point? Can you give so much that it feels like you'd die for it?
Is it possible to be fully present, here and now, for each one? Can you play each point as if the last never happened? As if it's your first? As if it's your last? Is it possible to play every point as if your life depended on it? As if you'd retire tomorrow? As if you've just been resurrected? Can you value every single one of those 260,000 points that much?
Can you suppress discouragement on every point? Even when it's not your day? When there's no clear reason why you're playing poorly? When you are playing poorly? When you feel half a step slow? When you're missing just a bit of explosiveness? When you feel rusty? Can you stay in the moment when every fiber of your being is telling you this just isn't it? Can you rise above when someone is crushing you like almost no one else can? Even then, can you play every point with greatness? Can you silence your ego?
Can you push back against despair? Can you accept every single situation in a match? Even under the most difficult, unfavorable conditions? Can you quiet the child within you? Can you accept every point, every outcome? Can you stay positive in every situation? Or, to put it more starkly, can you stay positive even when it feels impossible? Can you believe in every point? Even when no one else does? Can you persevere no matter what?
Can you endure when you're injured time and again? Can you keep going when you're playing through pain? Can you triumph over that pain? Even then—when you're hurt—can you play every point the same way? Can you still be great? Can you truly approach each point with the same attitude? Can you take none of them for granted? Can you carry yourself with dignity on every point? Can you, ultimately, resist self-destruction on every point? Can you always control your emotions? On every point, can you suppress anger and frustration? Can you be a saint on every point? Can you be that serene?
Is it possible to always be at peace with yourself? Can you be that grateful? Is it still possible when you know you're no longer who you once were? When you feel the end creeping closer? Even then, can you be great on every point? Can you silence your ego? Can you handle losing matches you once would have won without a second thought? When you feel yourself becoming a shadow of who you used to be? Even then, can you carry yourself well on every point? Can you give your all on every point? And does it even matter at that point?
And, to finally end what some might dismiss as cheap sentimentality—can you truly be an idol? No, of course not. It's not possible, and it probably never will be. But Rafael Nadal came unbelievably close. Nearly every single one of those 260,000 points in his life, he played the same way. And that's really all you need to know about him.