I am wondering if there is any other sport that can keep one engrossed
continuously for hours together! There’s no sport like tennis in that
regard and the duo of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal just proved that
displaying athleticism, true grit and passion for the sport in style and
in the process, they have added a glorious chapter in the ‘book of
rivalries’ that the sport of tennis has given us over the years. In
addition to the entertainment that the two gladiators offered, there
were lessons for life – of immense value – that was intrinsically part
of the 6 hour saga at Rod Laver Arena. Shown below are 5 distinct
lessons that I could decipher from the contest that kept me engrossed to
my television set and even dumbfounded me at some crucial moments.
1. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” goes the tagline of
Stallone’s Rocky! A tennis crusader who has an unmistakable resemblance
to the Rambo actor showed exactly that after Rafael Nadal went 4-2 up in
the decider. He churned out a comeback that was miraculous given the
fact that he had exceeded ten hours of marathon tennis in the last 48
hours prior to reaching that score line! Anyone else in the ATP circuit
would have faltered (whether or not they would have stretched Rafa to
five sets is a different question) if Nadal was at such a commanding
position in the fifth set in such a humdinger but not a certain Nole
from Serbia. The fact that Djokovic proved the Rocky verse in the US
Open ’11 semis against Roger Federer when the Swiss was serving at 5-3
40-15 match point is another startling point!
2. Your past has got nothing to do with what you are/ what you will be.
Novak Djokovic was once a bunny of the likes of Andy Roddick and
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. There was even a time when he used to retire
prematurely from grand slam matches. He was the last name one would
associate with fitness.
“Isn’t it both of them? And a back and a hip? A cramp, Bird flu, Anthrax, SARS, Common cough and cold” – Roddick
would quip on Djokovic’s fitness before their quarterfinal clash at US
Open in 2008. But when Djokovic nearly pulled off a victory after
battling 4 hours with Nadal on the dirt in Madrid in 2009, there was
enough evidence that a turn of tables was around the corner. Yesterday,
after battling out the defense of Nadal (arguably the fittest of them
all) for 5 hours and 53 minutes, there is no doubt on how brilliantly
the Serb has turned his fitness around in the last few years. Even
Roddick knows it now. He tweeted after the epic “Djokovic-Rafa.
Absolute war. Physicality of tennis has been taken to another level in
the last 5 years. 6 straight hours of power/speed”
3. Defeats need not always be the worst of things. One could feel ‘happy’ about defeats that follow struggle.
Nadal, in his post-match presser (where he used the word ‘happy’ 9
times in the conference) said “I am not happy to lose the final, yes,
but that’s one of the losses that I am more happy in my career.” Need I
say more! Pearls of wisdom these from Rafa.
4. Seize the opportunity that comes your way; Else, the payoff could be huge.
Ask Djokovic how he would have wished to play better if given another chance when Rafa was 0-40 down at 3-4 in the 4th set. You may get second opinion from Rafa on how he rues the missed pass when he was 4-2 30-15 up in the deciding set.
5. Never,ever give up – Even when what you are up against is a mountain of trouble.
The point that explains this – the 31 shot rally at 4-4 in set 5;
The mountain – Novak Djokovic who came up with at least 4 potential winners in the course of the rally;
The one who gives the lesson on not to give up – Rafael Nadal who defended with immense determination and made Nole fall down.
Who knows? On another day, such a point would have sapped Nole’s
confidence and Rafa might have broken in the next game to win the slam. The way
Nole bounced back after the rally is another proven elucidation of the
fact that one must never, ever give up!
These are among the lessons that the final, in particular, and
tennis, in general, have taught us time and again. Whether we take it in
or not is a question that is best left to personal pondering.
Having born in the 80s, I am glad that I was born in an era that has
allowed me to watch and appreciate the rivalries of Edberg-Becker,
Pete-Andre, Roger-Rafa and now Rafa-Nole, each special in its own
distinct way! As I had mentioned earlier, with the Australian open final
of 2012, a new chapter of epic proportions just got added to a classic book and the lessons these chapters
have brought forth are worth remembering and reminiscing for the years
to come!
