Rafael Nadal lost his 4th-round match at the French Open, where he had been undefeated (!) and was the four-time defending champion. Until today. Coming into the French Open, the ultimate clay court tournament in tennis, Nadal was the overwhelming favorite to be the first player ever to win it 5 times in a row. He played great tennis in his last match. But he lost a tough four-set match to an opponent who showcased absolutely stunning tennis.
Nadal has been my favorite player in the past two years. At 22, he has rewritten tennis history in many ways in the past year, including winning the greatest match of all time over 5-time defending champion, Roger Federer, at the Wimbledon final. He has already been regarded as the greatest clay-court tennis player ever, and is undeniably one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
I like to watch him play not only because of his tennis, but more so his character and humility. He is a class act in victory and in defeat, and how he dealt with his shocking loss today once again spoke loudly and clearly about him.
Nadal had always said that there would be a day when he would lose at the French Open for the first time. Of course, nobody in the tennis world predicted it would come today, but true to his words, he accepted the defeat, and he did so with such a level of grace that is no less stunning than his defeat.
He said in his post-match press conference -
"I have to accept (the defeat) with the same calm when I win than (sic) when I lose. After four years I lose here, and the season continue(s)."
"Well, all of us athletes, we know that when we walk on the court we can either win or lose. I know it for a fact anything can happen, and I have to accept them both in the same way."
He had nothing bitter to say about the match, gave credit to his opponent and congratulated him, did not make any excuse, and simply admitted that he did not play well and thus lost the match. He even commented that he hoped Federer, whom he defeated at the French Open in the past four years, would win the French Open (which would level Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slams and undoubtedly make him the greatest player of all time).
After the French Open comes Wimbledon later this Summer. At the All England Club, where Wimbledon takes place, is a quote from Rudyard Kipling's poem If -
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
Nadal did it today. Even though he lost the match, he is a true champion.
1 comment:
I'm going to have Daivd read this. His baseball team just lost in a tournament - they were one game away from the championship. They played 16 games this season (5 of them this weekend!) and lost only one.
They were bummed about losing, but took it well. His coach will not allow anything that is less than good sportmanship, and this what we've been trying to make sure they understand.
Thanks for sharing!
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