Rafael Nadal: Completing a glorious comeback

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 09: Rafael Nadal with his Cup after the Final of Roland Garros Tennis French Open 2013 – Day 15

As Rafael Nadal waited in Court Philippe Chatrier to receive the Coupe des Mousquetaires after etching his name in history as the first man to take eight titles at the hallowed arena in the Open Era, there was a serene calmness about him. From the moment he had entered the amphitheatre that day, Rafa had exhibited an amazing equanimity and incredible poise – there was hardly the show of celebration through fistpumps or the roar of Vamos!

Was it just to show his respect to his opponent, David Ferrer, who was his friend and compatriot, or was it because the opposition was too light a challenge to bring out all his emotions? Or most importantly, was it a vindication that he had buried all the doubts and anxiety that had hovered in his mind during the first week of the French Open and thus brought to the fore his tranquil, stoic self?

For Nadal, winning the French Open was as much of an announcement to the world that he had never forgotten how to excel at majors as it was a validation to his own mind that nothing has changed despite those seven months of sabbatical owing to Hoffa’s syndrome. For a passionate and hungry competitor like the Spaniard, it surely couldn’t have been easy watching his own arch-rivals rule the roost while he quietly convalesced in Mallorca. Knowing how deeply he invests himself every single day in the searing competition and how much he dedicates himself to the sport he truly loves, staying away from tennis definitely wasn’t a comfortable period for him.

Two Slams went by, the year-ending Championships sailed by, the Davis Cup final also passed by, but Rafa was never present anywhere. Even a professional of 12 years like Rafa couldn’t evade the seeds of doubt that were sowed in his mind during this stretch. Would he ever be able to get to where he once was after coming back from his longest hiatus? What did the future hold?

Considering the southpaw’s problems with his knee, his return on the soft claycourts of South America in February was hailed as a welcome decision. He simply wanted to test the waters; he and his team never even thought of a miraculous comeback. “Five months ago nobody of my team dreamed about a comeback like this because we thought that it’s going to be impossible,” Rafa said after his win in Paris.

And so it was. The former World No. 1 looked tentative and seemed unsure of his movement at Vina del Mar. There was hardly the effortless sliding that Rafa is characterized with, his backhand hardly had the sheen it used to. It seemed like he was a warrior thrust into a battle scene without his armoury. When he succumbed to Horacio Zeballos in the final at Chile, it became more prominent.

But perhaps that loss was what he needed. It forced him to do some soul-searching. When he reigned supreme at Sao Paulo, Rafa wasn’t perfect but he had taken babysteps to reminding himself that he needn’t be blinded by the spotlight anymore. At Acapulco, he surely had reminded himself that he can once again be the champion that he was.

But what was more important was that the seven-month hiatus had taught Nadal to be more relaxed and intrepid. Somewhere inside, despite missing the grind of the tour, Rafa had learnt his biggest lesson during his time away. It had taught him the precious lesson of enjoying the sport. And Rafa himself confirms it when he says, “I am taking everything a little bit more relaxed. Before I wanted to practice every day a lot to be 100 percent sure that I am ready, but that’s not possible at the day of today anymore.” Maybe that is what spurred him on even when he was down during the final at Indian Wells.